Little Penguin

Eudyptula minor

Easy

The **Little Penguin** (*Eudyptula minor)* is a small Oceanian penguin featured in the Oceania Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** 469,760

The little penguin (or Eudyptula minor), also known as the blue penguin, is a small species of marine bird that lives on the coastlines and in the surrounding oceans of Southern Australia and New Zealand. It has dark blue feathers dorsally - on its back - and white feathers ventrally - covering its belly and chin. The little penguin has black eyes, a black beak, and pink feet. Males and females of this species look alike. Little penguins stand 30cm (12in) tall on average, and Weigh between 1.1kg and 1.5 kg (2.4lb and 3.3lb).

Little penguins are not endangered and are considered a species of Least Concern. Most populations of little penguins are stable, but many also face threats due to human encroachment, such as introduced predators, oil spills, and other water pollution. They are at risk of being hit by cars, and can be affected by coastal development for tourism, fishing, and infrastructure.

### Social

Little penguins are social animals; and when not foraging at sea, they live in small groups of mated pairs.

### Reproduction

Little penguins breed in winter and spring in the Southern Hemisphere, from June to October. During this period, male little penguins engage in mating display, which include vocalising and standing tall with their neck and clippers spread out. A male may also build a nest and perform his displays in front of it to impress females. Once a female has chosen him, the two perform a courtship display together, which involves vocalising, bowing to and circling on another. Soon after, copulation takes place and the pair either build a nest together or use the male's existing nest.

31 days after mating, the female lays 1-2 eggs into the nest, which both male and female will then incubate for another 31 to 40 days before they hatch. The little penguin hatchlings are fiercely guarded by their parents for the first 3 to 5 weeks of their lives, with each parent taking a shift lasting 3 to 4 days. After this initial guarding period, the chick is then only watched at night. Chicks fledge at an age of roughly 2 months old, when they are close to adult size, and soon after become independent from their parents.

Little penguin reach sexual maturity at 3 years old, and will attempt to find a mate in the next breeding season. Mated pair remain together for life, and reunite each breeding season.

## Animal care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Underwater Box Feeder · Block of Frozen Fish · Slow Feeder
Curio Ball · Platform Floats · Rubber Duck · Submarine Buoy · Water Jet Rock · Water Jet · Small Bubble Machine · Sprinkler · Ice Block

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* The little penguin is the smallest species of penguin in the world.
* Each little penguin has a unique call, and monogamous pairs use these calls to identify each other.
* Little penguins secrete an oily substance from their tail, which they rub over their bodies to maintain their waterproof feathers.
* A little penguin may travel 1000km before its first birthday.
* Little penguin can dive to depths of 60m.

### Other Trivia

* The **Little Penguin** was the third penguin to be added to the game. The first being is the King Penguin and the second is the African Penguin.

## Gallery

The Little Penguin in the announcement video for the Oceania PackOfficial reveal for the Little Penguin