Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) at up to 1.2 m body length and 45 kg is the largest living penguin. It breeds during the Antarctic winter at temperatures down to −60°C and dives to 535 m depth. Climate change-driven sea ice loss increasingly threatens the species.
biology.birds
Metrics
Scientific Name
Gray, 1844. Family Spheniscidae.
Body Length
Standing height lower: approx. 100–108 cm. Largest living penguin.
Mass
Mass fluctuates significantly: highest before breeding season, greatly reduced afterwards.
Lifespan
Typically 15–20 years in the wild; maximum reports up to 40–50 years.
Relations
The emperor penguin is heavier than a golden eagle but cannot fly — it dives instead.
Explanations
The Emperor Penguin is the largest living penguin species, reaching a body length of 1.15 m and weighing about 35 kg. This remarkable bird breeds during the Antarctic winter at temperatures as low as -60 °C and displays incredible diving abilities, reaching depths of 535 m and swimming speeds of 19 km/h. Unfortunately, the species faces growing threats: it is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, primarily due to climate change-driven declines in sea ice that threaten its Antarctic habitat.
Sources
Near Threatened.
Related Cards
Provenance
Status
seed
Review
none
Last Updated
2026-02-17