Penguin of the Day - Adelie - Images by Jonathan Chester
Adélies are found all the way around the Antarctic continent and on neighboring islands, but they are rarely seen beyond the Antarctic convergence, the northern limit of the colder water. The Adélie is the classic “little man in evening dress”, though it is more like a cut away morning suit, than a typical tuxedo.
The Adélie’s most distinctive marking is a white ring around their eyes that beams out of an otherwise all black head. Adelies are not timid and will take on a 6 ft human who has strayed within their territory, as readily as another penguin. Having your leg pummelled by their tough flipper can result in a nasty bruise.
Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adelie, one of the brush tail species, average 70 centimetres (28 inches) in length and weigh 3.7 to 4 kilograms (8 to 8 1/2 pounds). The designation Adélie comes from Adélie Land which was named by French explorer, Admiral Durmont d’ Urville in honour of his wife.
(from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)
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