Aptenodytes

King penguins ( Aptenodytes patagonicus)

The United penguins ( Aptenodytes ) are a bird genus within the family of penguins ( Spheniscidae ). The scientific name Aptenodytes is derived from the Greek and means " wingless divers ".

Position in the family of penguins

The penguins, which are summarized to the genus of large penguins are the most familiar to the public penguins. Their black and white plumage and drawing their distinctive yellow-orange neck markings are so well known that they coined the notion of the "typical" appearance Penguin world. At the level of awareness contributed to numerous documentaries about the types of large penguins. The film March of the Penguins, which focuses on the parental care of the emperor penguin, was honored in 2006 with an Oscar, as well as the animated film Happy Feet.

In reality, the penguins of the genus of large penguins, however, are far removed from what perhaps can be considered as a basic blueprint of a penguin. The two projected to the big penguin species are much larger and heavier than the other penguin species. An adult king penguin reaches a body length between 85 and 95 inches and weighs 10 to 16 kilograms. The emperor penguin reaches a height between 100 and 130 centimeters and weighs 22-37 kilograms. They also build the only penguins no nests, but incubate their eggs in a special brood pouch on the belly from.

Species

Only two of the 18 penguin species are summarized in the genus Aptenodytes. These are the Emperor Penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri ) and the slightly smaller King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Both types are currently classified by the IUCN as uncritical ( least concern ).