THE GENERAL BIOLOGY OF PENGUINS
I
I
I
I
*K
I 6 -
-
I 4 -
E
0
.
E
181
Flipper length crn
FIQ. 11. Foot and flipper length: abbreviations as in Fig. 10.
largest species, there is a clear correlation of 2dflipper area136eight
(y = 5 . 6 5 ~ - 0.35: r = 0.94, s.e. = 0.03). Kings and (especially) Emperors have proportionately much shorter flippers than the small and
middle-sized species.
Four species - Peruvian, Blackfooted, Erect-crested and Northern
Blue - and the Chathain Island subspecies of the Southern Blue, have
flippers over 10% greater than the theoretical value for their weight.
All are birds of bare exposed islands which, over all or most of their
ranges, must at times be unable to avoid strong insolation. All therefore
require well-developed mechanisms for shedding heat. The Chatham
Island birds are of particular interest as representatives of a more
southerly form living in a comparatively warm environment (Fig. 7);
they differ from parent stock both in flipper size and in having markedly
thinner plumage (see below p. 184).
Four species - Magellanic, Yellow-eyed, King and Emperor - have
flippers over 10% smaller than their theoretical value. The first two are
birds of cool temperate regions which avoid insolation by burrowing or
nesting in dense vegetation. Kings have notably narrow flippers (see
0
I
I
I
I
*K
I 6 -
-
I 4 -
E
0
.
E
181
Flipper length crn
FIQ. 11. Foot and flipper length: abbreviations as in Fig. 10.
largest species, there is a clear correlation of 2dflipper area136eight
(y = 5 . 6 5 ~ - 0.35: r = 0.94, s.e. = 0.03). Kings and (especially) Emperors have proportionately much shorter flippers than the small and
middle-sized species.
Four species - Peruvian, Blackfooted, Erect-crested and Northern
Blue - and the Chathain Island subspecies of the Southern Blue, have
flippers over 10% greater than the theoretical value for their weight.
All are birds of bare exposed islands which, over all or most of their
ranges, must at times be unable to avoid strong insolation. All therefore
require well-developed mechanisms for shedding heat. The Chatham
Island birds are of particular interest as representatives of a more
southerly form living in a comparatively warm environment (Fig. 7);
they differ from parent stock both in flipper size and in having markedly
thinner plumage (see below p. 184).
Four species - Magellanic, Yellow-eyed, King and Emperor - have
flippers over 10% smaller than their theoretical value. The first two are
birds of cool temperate regions which avoid insolation by burrowing or
nesting in dense vegetation. Kings have notably narrow flippers (see
0