Types of Penguin's Species

The number of extant penguin species is debated. Depending on which authority is followed, penguin biodiversity varies between 17 and 20 living species, all in the subfamily Spheniscinae. Some sources consider the White-flippered Penguin a separate Eudyptula species, while others treat it as a subspecies of the Little Penguin; the actual situation seems to be more complicated. Similarly, it is still unclear whether the Royal Penguin is merely a color morph of the Macaroni penguin. The status of the Rockhopper penguins is also unclear.

Updated after Marples (1962), Acosta Hospitaleche (2004), and Ksepka et al. (2006).

Subfamily Spheniscinae – Modern penguins

• Aptenodytes – Great penguins
  • King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus
  • Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri
• Pygoscelis – Brush-tailed penguins
  • Adélie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae
  • Chinstrap Penguin, Pygoscelis antarctica
  • Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua
• Eudyptula – Little penguins
  • Little Blue Penguin, Eudyptula minor
  • White-flippered Penguin, Eudyptula albosignata (provisional)
• Spheniscus – Banded penguins
  • Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus
  • Humboldt Penguin, Spheniscus humboldti
  • Galapagos Penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus
  • African Penguin, Spheniscus demersus
• Megadyptes
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes
  • Waitaha Penguin, Megadyptes waitaha (extinct)
• Eudyptes – Crested penguins
  • Fiordland Penguin, Eudyptes pachyrynchus
  • Snares Penguin, Eudyptes robustus
  • Erect-crested Penguin, Eudyptes sclateri
  • Western Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome
  • Eastern Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes filholi
  • Northern Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes moseleyi
  • Royal Penguin, Eudyptes schlegeli (disputed)
  • Macaroni Penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus
  • Chatham Islands Penguin, Eudyptes sp. (extinct)