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Animal profile

Gentoo Penguin

Pygoscelis papua

AvesSubantarctic island coasts and the Antarctic PeninsulaLeast Concern

Field profile

The gentoo penguin is recognisable by its bright orange bill and a white patch running across the top of the head. It breeds on subantarctic islands and along the Antarctic Peninsula, where its colonies have been expanding southward. It is the fastest swimmer among penguins.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2024-06-02

Gentoo Penguin

The gentoo is the fastest swimming penguin

Gentoos are routinely credited with underwater speeds around 36 kilometres per hour. The figure is a burst, not a cruise: gentoos travel far more slowly on ordinary foraging trips, and the record reflects a short dash rather than sustained swimming.

Read with evidence →

Gentoo Penguin | Daily Animal Facts