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Gentoo penguin on Petermann Island
A Gentoo penguin on Petermann Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.
Gentoos are recognizable by the white patch above their eye, bright red-orange bill, and long stiff tail feathers, which are the most prominent of all penguins. They grow to 56 centimeters (22-23 inches) in height and can weigh up to 6 kilograms (12-13 pounds). They eat crustaceans and fish, taking short dives (about 30 seconds) to depths of over 100 meters (328 feet). Gentoos return to breeding grounds along rocky coastlines in October and November and usually mate with the partner of the previous season. Most Gentoos live in the area around South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Studies of Gentoos are just one of the vast numbers of ongoing research projects that take place continually in Antarctica under the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), supported and managed by the National Science Foundation. Other Antarctic study areas are aeronomy and astrophysics, biology and medicine, geology and geophysics, glaciology, and ocean and climate systems. Outreach such as the Antarctic Artists and Writers program and education programs are also supported. To learn more, visit the USAP Web site. [Note: Please see special restrictions regarding use of this image, below.] (Date of Image: Feb. 15, 2006)
Credit: Zee Evans
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