ANIMALS – BIRDS – PENGUINS – CHINSTRAP PENGUIN (PYGOSCELIS ANTARCTICA)

Animals - Birds - Penguins

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Sphenisciformes
Family : Spheniscidae
Genus : Pygoscelis
Species : P. Antarctica

Description:

The Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) is a species of penguin which inhabits a variety of islands and shores in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Ocean. Its name derives from the narrow black band under its head which makes it appear as if it were wearing a black helmet, making it one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other common names are "ringed penguin", "bearded penguin", and "stone cracker penguin" due to its harsh call.

Chinstrap penguins have an average body length of 72 centimetres (28 in) and a weight of 3–5 kilograms (6.6–11.0 lb), however their weight can drop as low as 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) depending on the breeding cycle. Males are both larger and heavier than females.

The adult chinstraps' flippers are black with a white edge; the inner sides of the flippers are white. The face is white extending behind the eyes, which are reddish-brown; the chin and throat are white as well, while the short bill is black. The strong legs and the webbed feet are pink. The chinstrap penguin's black-and-white plumage helps camouflage it in the water from predators such as seals. When seen from above, the bird's black back blends into the dark water below, while the bird's underside blends into the sunshine above when seen from below.

Chinstrap penguins have a circumpolar distribution. They breed in Antarctica, Argentina, Bouvet Island, Chile, the Falkland Islands, the French Southern Territories, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Vagrant individuals have been found in New Zealand, the islands of Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha, and South Africa. Global population is estimated at least 8 million.

Binomial Name:

Name : Pygoscelis antarctica
Taxonomist : Johann Reinhold Forster (Tczew - Poland)
Year : 1781
Subspecies : None, or no data available
Synonyms : Pygoscelis antarcticus

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2010 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Antartic Treaty Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: October 8th, 2010
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 37

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated