Adélie penguins live on the Antarctic continent and on many small, surrounding coastal islands. They spend the winter offshore in the seas surrounding the Antarctic pack ice.
Adélies feed on tiny aquatic creatures, such as shrimp-like krill, but also eat fish and squid. They have been known to dive as deep as 575 feet (175 metres) in search of such quarry, though they usually hunt in far shallower waters less than half that depth.
Like other penguins, Adélies are sleek and efficient swimmers. They may travel 185 miles round-trip (about 300 kilometres) to procure a meal.
Status: Near threatened
Average life span in the wild: Up to 20 years
Size: 27.5 in (70 cm)
Weight: 8.5 to 12 lbs (4 to 5.5 kg)
Group name: Colony
Did you know? Adult Adélie penguins have been observed stealing rocks from their neighbors’ nests.
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