Are there two new types of penguins?

Answer 1

It is generally accepted that there are 16 different species of penguin. However, the figure has always been and still is very controversial. As a safe measure, most literature lists it as varying between 16 and 19 species.


The debate surrounds three penguins. The first is The White-Flipped Penguin is sometimes thought to be a subspecies of the Penguin; the second is the Royal Penguin is considered to be a color morph of the Macaroni penguin and the third is the Rock hopper penguins which could be a separate species.

All penguin species are actually native to the Southern Hemisphere. However, only a few species are found only in cold climates (contrary to popular belief). Three species actually live in the tropics and the Galapagos Penguin lives as far north as the Galapagos Islands.

The largest species is the Emperor Penguin about 3 feet 7 inches height and weighs about 35 kg. The smallest penguin is the Little Blue Penguin which stands around 16 inches and weighs about 1 kg.