THE SNARES ISLANDS PENGUIN EUDYPTES ROBVSTUS

Abstract

Recent visits to the Snares Islands (48o S, 166o E), 96 km south‐southwest of Stewart Island, New Zealand, have yielded new information about the endemic crested penguin Eudyptes robustus (Plate 1(a)). This paper, based on visits by University of Canterbury‐teams in January and February 1961 and 1967, discusses nomenclature and taxonomy, diagnostic characters, egg size, sexual dimorphism, and the dimensions of fledglings, yearlings and adult birds.SUMMARYThe Snares Islands Penguin Eudyptes robustus breeds only on the Snares Islands and is repro‐ductively isolated from Fiordland Penguins, which are its closest kin. Both adults and yearlings of the two species are morphologically distinguishable, although measurements from museum skins stress similarities rather than differences between the species. Measurements of live chicks, yearlings and adults show that chicks reach independence with feet and flippers almost fully grown; adult body length is achieved during the first year, and the large bill characterising the species develops subsequently. Breeding times differ from those of Fiordland penguins. There is a strong suggestion that, within normal clutches of two eggs, one is 20% smaller than the other and has reduced chances of survival.