Eudyptula+minor

World Population: 500,000 breeding pairs
**Kingdom:** [|Animalia]
 * Phylum:** [|Chordata]
 * Class:** [|Aves]
 * Order:** [|Ciconiiformes]
 * Family:** [|Spheniscidae]

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The species is not endangered but some populations are threatened. Little Penguins usually breed on offshore islands or, less commonly, along parts of the mainland coast that are inaccessible to mammalian predators. Most breeding sites are adjacent to the sea, with burrows in sand or soil or under vegetation, but in some areas the birds nest in caves or crevices in rock falls. Of the 828 birds oiled in nine pollution incidents of small size in southern Australia, 54% were Little Penguins. The potential exists for oil spills to have major, even catastrophic, effects on penguin populations.======



Eudyptula minor prefers sandy, rocky beaches for landing at night and for nesting. The little penguin occurs in the seas of Australia, feeding mainly in inshore waters around the mainland and offshore islands. Most of the penguins are found on sandy, rocky islands, around bases of cliffs, or near sand dunes.

REPRODUCTION Eggs hatch within about 36 days, and chicks are semi-altricial, weighing about 40 g. They are guarded continuously for the next 1-3 weeks, again with male and female alternating. At 3-4 weeks the chicks are guarded only at night, and then in later stages they are only visited at night by a parent for feeding.

BEHAVIOR Eudyptula minor is a social bird, and is the most nocturnal of all penguin species. During the day it is either hunting at sea or in its nest sleeping. Little penguins live in loose colonies, composed of birds of all ages. They form small, very vocal groups when coming ashore at night, but then disperse to respective territories. The little penguin has a surprisingly diverse array of visual displays for many social situations. For example, fighting stances, warding off unfamiliar birds, and mating displays. The little penguin has large range of calls, in addition to its visual displays. Sounds range from soft mewing notes, to loud screams, to growling, and even trumpeting calls. Individuals undergo a complete body molt sometime from December to March, after the breeding season. This usually takes place at the breeding site and lasts from 10-18 days.

SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTIONS 1) where was this penguin originated? 2) does the little penguin travel alone or in groups? 3) how long does it take for the eggs to hatch?

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