Hello, everyone! In the icy world of the Antarctic continent, there lives a small inhabitant dressed in black and white. Its name is the Adelie penguin. This adorable creature hides many unknown charms.
The Adelie penguin is a medium-sized penguin, about 60-70 cm in body length. Its distinguishing features include a white belly, a black back, and white eye rings. This simple yet striking color scheme makes them one of the most iconic penguins.
They have adapted to the cold Antarctic environment in various ways. For example, their beak is covered with feathers from the base to near the tip to protect against the cold. Another characteristic is their longer tail feathers compared to other penguins. During the breeding season, they collect pebbles to build volcano-shaped nests. These pebbles are like precious items to them. There can even be fights over pebbles during nest-building season.
Their diet mainly consists of krill and fish, which can vary by region and year. After the breeding season ends, Adelie penguins form groups and head to the sea. Their life in the sea is active, swimming at speeds of up to 25 km/h.
Only the Adelie penguin and the larger Emperor penguin breed on the Antarctic continent. The name “Adelie” comes from Adele, the wife of the French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville who visited Antarctica in 1840. The place he landed was named “Adelie Land,” and the penguins discovered there were named after Adele.
Their appearance and ecology have made them beloved by many, and they are sometimes cherished as characters or illustrations. They are simple yet the epitome of “penguin-ness”. In Japan, they are also known as the mascot character for Suica.
The Adelie penguin is so charming. Learning about their ecology and environment is both fun and important for us. Let’s support them so they can continue to thrive in the icy world of Antarctica. See you next time!
