Two subspecies have been recognized, Pygoscelis papua ellsworthi and Pygoscelis papua papua . P.p.papua are smaller in size, with longer feathers and a shorter bill. Food Habits Gentoo Penguins take both small plankton and large prey, especially squid and fish. Dominant prey taxa are fish of the genus Gymnoseopelus and Paranotothenia magellanica . Both pelagic and benthic prey are eaten but benthic species make up a larger proportion of the diet.
Females tend to eat more krill than males.
Males tend to eat more fish than the females. Ability to secure large prey as compared to other penguins is a consequence of their large size and elongated bills. Major predators are Brown Skuas, which prey on eggs and chicks, and sheathbills and Dominian gulls which prey on eggs. Other predators include kelp gulls, feral cats, and leopard seals. It has been estimated that total energy budget of a 6.2 kg breeding Gentoo Penguin is 1517 MJ which is equivalent to the consumption of 292 kg prey.