Phil Bendle Collection:Penguin (Rockhopper) Eudyptes chrysocome

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Eudyptes
Species: E. chrysocome
Binomial name: Eudyptes chrysocome
Subspecies: Eudyptes (chrysocome) chrysocome, Eudyptes (chrysocome) filholi, Eudyptes (chrysocome) moseleyi
Common name: Rockhopper penguins.

The rockhopper penguins are three closely related taxa of crested penguins. Not all experts agree on the classification of these penguins. Some consider all three as distinct species, some split the western and eastern forms into the southern rockhopper penguin and keep the northern rockhopper as distinct, while other experts consider all three potential varieties to be one species.

Rockhopper penguins are one of the smallest species of penguin in the world. They range from 2.3-2.7 kg and have a white belly and the rest of their body is black. They have red eyes and an orange beak. Due to the harsh rocky environment, they cannot slide on their bellies like most penguins, so they hop to get from one place to another.

The three subspecies are 
Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes (chrysocome) chrysocome
Eastern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes (chrysocome) filholi
Northern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes (chrysocome) moseleyi

Rockhopper breed on many southern islands around the world including New Zealand’s Macquarie Island, Campbell, Auckland and Antipodes Islands.

They can dive up to 100 m for several minutes at a time while looking for prey. Their diet consists of krill, crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, squid and lanternfish fish. 
They are infrequent stragglers to New Zealand’s mainland and are usually found on the east coast. 

Northern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes (chrysocome) moseleyi

Eudyptes (chrysocome) filholi

Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes (chrysocome) chrysocome

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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