Eudyptes robustus
snares penguin

Eudyptes robustus is restricted to Snares Island, south of New Zealand, and the adjacent ocean. Snares Island is a marine sanctuary that restricts access to humans (Muller-Schwarze 1984). (Muller-Schwarze, 1984)

Eudyptes robustus lives in the temperate subantarctic subzone. This habitat provides enough vegetation for nest building and roosting. Snares Island is heavily forested, but the shores are rocky with mosses filling in the gaps. The main rock type is muscovite granite. The ground is cover to a depth of two meters with peat. This is the area where E. robustus builds its nests (Russ 2000).

As with the other five species of Eudyptes, E. robustus has characteristic yellow plumes or crests on the head (Muller-Schwarze 1984). Eudyptes robustus stands between 50 and 60 cm tall. They are physically similar to the Fjordland penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus). They have a thick heavy bill, with white or pink skin around the base of the beak. They have all black feathers on their cheeks as opposed the white feather tufts on the cheek of the Fjordland penguin. Eudyptes robustus has broad crests that grow from the beak to the back of the head (Penguins Around the World 2000). Males and females are physically very similar, however the male is usually a little taller and weighs a little more.

Penguins show three types of behavior: general, aggressive, and sexual. General behaviors include huddling, in which the birds gather together to minimize heat loss, and preening, in which the bird gathers oil from a preening gland on the rump and applies it to the feathers. This is done to maintain the feathers and prevent water infiltration.

Aggressive behaviors include point and gape, in which the penguin points at an intruder and opens his bill, growling, to warn intruders that they are entering that penguin's territory. Another aggressive behavior is charging, in which the bird charges the intruder with its wings extended and beak open. This can be done silently or with a growl.

Sexual behaviors include the ecstatic display, in which the bird stands up right with its wings extended. The bird then repeatedly pumps its chest. This is done by single males to attract females. Bowing is done in pairs when the male returns to the nest. The female will bow to the male and then the male will bow to the female. The mutual display and trumpeting are both acts done when the male returns from an extended absence. These two behaviors are very similar. In the mutual display, the returning male will face the female, bow, and then extend his beak vertically in the air and call out. The female will then repeat the act. Trumpeting is the same act as the mutual display, except it is done with the pair standing side by side (Welch 1997).

The diet of the Snares Island Penguin is not well known, however, researchers believe that it is made up of krill, squid, and fish (Barham and Barham 1996). Fish makes up approximately 18% of its diet.

Because E. robustus has almost no contact with humans, it has no positive or negative impact on humans.

At present, there are no conservation issues facing E. robustus. All 17 species of penguins are legally protected from hunting and egg collecting. There are no introduced land predators on Snares Island, however, researchers believe that the introduction of the Norwegian rat (Rattus norvegicus) could pose a serious problem. At present the only predators of adult E. robustus is the Hooker's sea lion. Eggs and chicks are subject to predation by brown skuas and giant petrels. Because the population is restricted to Snares Island, there is no danger from human contact (Sea World 2001).

There are currently 17 recognized penguin species. Scientists also recognize 32 species of extinct penguins.

Currently there are estimated to be between 25 and 35 thousand pairs of E. robustus living on Snares Island. The average penguin lives between 15 and 20 years (Welch 1997).