What are the natural predators of penguins? A rundown of the main animals that prey on penguins
The penguin is one of the oldest swimming birds, known as the "boat of the sea". Most are distributed in the Southern Hemisphere and can live and breed in the severe cold of -60°C. There are 18 independent species in total, feeding mainly on krill, squid and small fish. The largest species is the emperor penguin, and the smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin. Let's take a look below at what natural predators penguins have!
Leopard seal
The leopard seal has a body length of 3-4 m and weighs 300-500 kg. Its body is sinuous and its head is huge, lacking a forehead like amphibians, but with large, deep jaws. Although it is massive and moves slowly on land, in the water it possesses the agility and speed typical of the seal family. Unlike other seals, the leopard seal swims with its foreflippers and touches things with its jaws. Its huge canine teeth allow it to prey on small seals, penguins and other birds. It is at the top of the food chain in Antarctica, bold and highly curious, and the killer whale is its only natural predator.
Great skua
The great skua lives alone or in pairs and often flies above the sea surface. Its flight is powerful and fast, and it also walks and runs well on the ground. It is good at swimming but cannot dive. It usually makes a living by snatching food from other seabirds or killing seabirds, feeding mainly on petrels and various seabirds. In summer on the islands it also preys on rabbits, rodents, bird eggs and chicks. It also often chases boobies, gulls and other seabirds above the sea surface, forcing them to spit out the food they have caught.
Sea lion
The sea lion is a highly social animal, usually active in groups. Sometimes on land and shore it can form large groups of thousands, but at sea small groups of 1 or a dozen or so are often found. It hunts in the sea during the day, relying mainly on its longer forelimbs for swimming and diving. Occasionally it also climbs ashore to bask in the sun, and at night it sleeps on shore. It feeds on fish, squid, jellyfish and mussels, and also likes to eat krill. Sometimes when hungry it will even eat penguins.
Killer whale
The killer whale is a large toothed whale, also known as the orca or killer whale. Its body length is 8-10 m and its weight is about 9 tons. Its head is slightly rounded, its mouth is slender, and its teeth are sharp. It is fierce in temperament and skilled at attacking prey, and is a natural predator of animals such as penguins and seals. Sometimes it also attacks other cetaceans, even the great white shark, and can be called the overlord of the sea. Moreover, the killer whale is a highly social animal, and some families formed by groups are the most stable families in the animal kingdom. Some complex social behaviors, hunting techniques and vocal communication are considered evidence that killer whales have their own culture.