"Strange geese." That was their description when they were discovered in 1520 during Magellan's historic voyage. Today, penguins are familiar to everyone, yet few researchers have observed them in the remote regions in which they live.Written by an ecologist-behaviorist who has worked extensively in the natural penguin habitat, The Behavior of Penguins is the first general work on the entire family of penguins. Numerous and remarkable field photographs document the author's detailed study of the life cycles and breeding patterns of each penguin species. He brings to light their unusual abilities to go with little food for months, to dive deep in the ocean, and to protect themselves in extreme environments. Müller-Schwarze's comprehensive and fascinating account of penguins also emphasizes the urgent need to protect these birds and their natural habitat.
Dietland Müller-Schwarze is Professor of Biology at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse.
List of MapsPrefacePart 1. Penguins in General 1. History2. Penguins in GeneralFormLocomotionThe Penguin SpeciesPenguins by Groups3. Zoogeographic Regions and their Characteristic PenguinsAntarctic PenguinsContinental Antarctic PenguinsMaritime Antarctic PenguinsSubantarctic PenguinsTemperate Zone and Tropical Penguins4. Penguins as Social Birds5. Penguins as Diving Birds6. The Phylogeny of Penguins7. The Role of Penguins in their Ecosystem8. Penguins are Special BirdsAnatomical Adaptations to the Polar ClimateBehavioral Adaptations to the Polar ClimatePart II. The Penguin Species 1. The Adelie PenguinPhysical FeaturesSeasonal MigrationsOrientationBreeding BiologyArrivalNest BuildingCourtshipPair BondBreeding BehaviorRaising the YoungMortalityFighting and Threatening: Agonistic BehaviorActivity RhythmsPredators and PredationThe Leopard Seal as PredatorBirds as PredatorsAnti-Predator BehaviorDiet and ForagingThermoregulationMolt2. The Chinstrap PenguinPhysical FeaturesBreeding Biology3. The Gentoo PenguinPhysical FeaturesBreeding Biology4. The Emperor PenguinPhysical FeaturesHistory of DiscoveryBreeding Biology5. The King PenguinPhysical FeaturesBreeding Biology6. The Crested PenguinsRockhopper PenguinMacaroni PenguinRoyal PenguinFjordland Crested PenguinSnares Island PenguinErect-Crested Penguin7. The Banded PenguinsBlack-Footed PenguinMagellanic PenguinHumboldt (Peruvian) PenguinGalapagos Penguin8. Fairy PenguinsLittle Blue PenguinWhite-Flippered Penguin9. The Yellow-Eyed Penguin10. Comparative Ethnology and the Evolution of PenguinsIndex