132
B. STONEHOUSE
summarizes a scattered literature on penguin habitats, assembles physiological and morphological data for the 18 species and six subspecies
distinguished, and discusses the probable significance of heat regulation
in relation to morphology and behaviour throughout the family. I hope
it may stress the need for more research-specially
physiological and
morphological, but also in the field of descriptive ecology-n
an
interesting and rewarding family.
The terrestrial ecology of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins (see
Table I for scientific names) is fairly well known; Emperor, Addie, King,
Gentoo and Rockhopper breeding cycles have been described in varying
detail, disclosing some remarkable adaptations for life in cold climates
(see reviews in Stonehouse, 1964, 1965). The terrestrial ecology of
Addies and Emperors, the two southernmost species, has recently been
reviewed by Pr6vost and Sapin Jaloustre (1965); two remaining species
of high latitudes (Chinstrap and Macaroni) are comparatively unknown,
but likely to prove as interesting in their own way.
The ecology of penguins in temperate latitudes is less well documented;
few populations have received the undivided attention of ecologists for
as much as a single breeding season. Paradoxically, the penguin communities of remote oceanic islands are now better described than many
on inhabited coasts; there are recent accounts of Rockhopper penguins
and their habitat on Tristan da Cunha (Elliott, 1957) and Gough Island
(Swales, 1065), but none of Fjordland penguins in south-western New
Zealand or Magellanic penguins in southern Chile. The ecology of seven
out of ten species of penguins on the New Zealand and Australian lists
is barely recorded; even the Yellow-eyed penguin, subject of an 18-year
population study by Richdale (1957), has hardly been examined in
relation to its terrestrial or marine environments.
Although the presence of penguins in warm climates is generally
regarded as an interesting anomaly, equatorial, tropical and sub-tropical
species have received least a.ttention from ecologists. Murphy’s “Oceanic
Birds of South America”, published in 1936, remains the most important
source of information on the ecology of tropical American penguins. The
endemic Galapagos penguin has been mentioned incidentally in two
recent ecological notes (LBv6que, 1964), but Peruvian and Magellanic
penguins still await attention. Kearton’s “The Island of Penguins”
(1 930), although unblushingly anthropomorphic, contains ecological
details of South African Blackfooted penguins which have not yet beer!
substantiated or denied by modern studies. There is no definitive ecological account of Little Blue penguins from their sub-tropical Australasian habitats; for ecological notes see Warham (1958) and Phillips
(1960).
The marine ecology of penguins has received even less attention and,
B. STONEHOUSE
summarizes a scattered literature on penguin habitats, assembles physiological and morphological data for the 18 species and six subspecies
distinguished, and discusses the probable significance of heat regulation
in relation to morphology and behaviour throughout the family. I hope
it may stress the need for more research-specially
physiological and
morphological, but also in the field of descriptive ecology-n
an
interesting and rewarding family.
The terrestrial ecology of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins (see
Table I for scientific names) is fairly well known; Emperor, Addie, King,
Gentoo and Rockhopper breeding cycles have been described in varying
detail, disclosing some remarkable adaptations for life in cold climates
(see reviews in Stonehouse, 1964, 1965). The terrestrial ecology of
Addies and Emperors, the two southernmost species, has recently been
reviewed by Pr6vost and Sapin Jaloustre (1965); two remaining species
of high latitudes (Chinstrap and Macaroni) are comparatively unknown,
but likely to prove as interesting in their own way.
The ecology of penguins in temperate latitudes is less well documented;
few populations have received the undivided attention of ecologists for
as much as a single breeding season. Paradoxically, the penguin communities of remote oceanic islands are now better described than many
on inhabited coasts; there are recent accounts of Rockhopper penguins
and their habitat on Tristan da Cunha (Elliott, 1957) and Gough Island
(Swales, 1065), but none of Fjordland penguins in south-western New
Zealand or Magellanic penguins in southern Chile. The ecology of seven
out of ten species of penguins on the New Zealand and Australian lists
is barely recorded; even the Yellow-eyed penguin, subject of an 18-year
population study by Richdale (1957), has hardly been examined in
relation to its terrestrial or marine environments.
Although the presence of penguins in warm climates is generally
regarded as an interesting anomaly, equatorial, tropical and sub-tropical
species have received least a.ttention from ecologists. Murphy’s “Oceanic
Birds of South America”, published in 1936, remains the most important
source of information on the ecology of tropical American penguins. The
endemic Galapagos penguin has been mentioned incidentally in two
recent ecological notes (LBv6que, 1964), but Peruvian and Magellanic
penguins still await attention. Kearton’s “The Island of Penguins”
(1 930), although unblushingly anthropomorphic, contains ecological
details of South African Blackfooted penguins which have not yet beer!
substantiated or denied by modern studies. There is no definitive ecological account of Little Blue penguins from their sub-tropical Australasian habitats; for ecological notes see Warham (1958) and Phillips
(1960).
The marine ecology of penguins has received even less attention and,