Eudyptes+moseleyi

Northern Rockhopper Penguin

The Northern Rockhopper Penguin, (Eudyptes moseleyi), is a penguin species that lives in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Its class is AVES, its order is Sphenisciformes, and its family is Spheniscidae. This species of penguin was originally one species, the Rockhopper penguin, but in 2006, it was split into two species, the Northern and Southern Rockhopper penguin. They are currently redlisted on the endangered species list in 2008 due to their decreasing population from changing sea climate, changing marine ecosystems and overfishing.


 * __Habitat__**

The Northern Rockhopper penguins live in the south Atlantic Ocean at the Tristan da Cunha and the Gough Islands. The latitude of its habitat is around 20 degrees South. The ocean temperature on average is about 68 degrees fahrenheit and its salinity is around 34.5 ppt. The penguins vary in their living habitats from living from sea-level to cliff-tops.
 * __Currents and Tides__**

The currents closest to the habitat of the Northern Rockhopper penguin are the South Atlantic current, the Benguela current and the Brazilian current. The type of tide the penguin experiences is semidilunar.


 * __Migration__**

Most Northern Rockhopper penguins migrate to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The purpose of the migration to these areas is to molt their coats.


 * __Population/Threats and Reason for Endangerment__**

The Northern Rockhopper penguin population is estimated to be in between 121,200 to 531,499 breeding pairs. Currently the population is declining and since the 1950's has dropped by 90 percent. This decline is equivalent to losing 100 birds each day for fifty years. The decline is a result of climate change, shifts in the marine ecosystem and the overfishing of octopus and squid, which the penguin regularly feeds on. The Northern rockhopper penguins are also threatened by the introduced predators that interfere with their breeding habits.


 * __Appearance__**

The Northern Rockhopper penguins look ver similar to their southern counterparts. They have a small, robust body and slate-grey upper parts with a white underside. They have a short, reddish-brown beak and red eyes. The difference is that the yellow hairs on their brow are longer and denser in the Northern Rockhopper penguin.
 * __Anatomy and Physiology__**
 * Large sternum
 * Pectoral muscles attached to sternum for "flight" underwater
 * Liver and pancreas help digest
 * No diaphram
 * Have air sacs that give it a constant stream of air
 * Don't have a crop unlike other birds
 * Stomach stores food for young
 * Stomach is located very low to their bodies (Between the legs)
 * Have knees and a water proof coat
 * Have a bare patch of skin known as the brooding pouch that helps them achieve better heat transfer when incubating eggs


 * __Reproduction__**
 * Breed in large colonies that can contain over one hundred thousand nests
 * Breed in various locations from sea level to cliff sides and inland
 * Breeding pairs are monogamous and return to the same nest every year
 * In August, egg laying begins and the female produces two eggs, one large the other small
 * Usually the larger egg reaches maturity
 * Both parents take turns incubating the egg for about 33 days
 * When the chick hatches the male will raise it while the female searches for food
 * After 25 days the chick will leave the nest and congregate with other chicks


 * __Food Web/Chain__**
 * Feed on krill, squid, crustaceans, octopus and fish
 * Eaten by killer whales and fur seals
 * Eat in tiny bites to help in the digestion process


 * __Economic Importance__**
 * Are used for bait by fishermen
 * Hunted to extract the oil from the heavy layer of fat beneath the skin
 * Eggs and guano are harvested each year


 * __Conservation Efforts__**
 * The Northern Rockhopper penguin population is regularly monitored to obtain more information about the penguins' decline
 * The efforts help safeguard against a population crash
 * Scientists are studying the effects of commercial fisheries and introduced predators on the Northern Rockhopper penguins


 * __Solutions__**
 * Ban the use of Northern Rockhoppers as bait
 * Balance the amount of predators preying on the Northern Rockhoppers
 * Prohibit the gathering of Northern Rockhopper eggs

__**Scavenger Hunt Questions**__
 * 1) On which islands are the Northern Rockhopper penguins located?
 * 2) Where do the Northern Rockhopper penguins migrate?
 * 3) How many days do the Northern Rockhoppers incubate their eggs?


 * __Sources__**
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