Adelie Penguin

Adelie penguins are the spokes models of the penguin species! Their black and white tuxedoes are what come to mind when we think of penguins. Adelie penguins have white rings around their eyes. Their bills are short and partially covered by feathers. When Adelie penguins walk, their long, stiff tails drag the ground. They live in Antarctica and its surrounding islands. Adelie penguins are quite small - they are about 3 feet tall and weigh around 8.5 pounds.

Unlike most penguins, Adelie penguins were named neither after their physical appearance (such as yellow-eyed penguins) nor after their nesting sites (such as Peruvian penguins). Instead, they were named after the wife of a French explorer, Admiral Durmont d'Urville, who led an expedition to Antarctica from 1837 to 1840. While he was there, he found thousands of these little penguins and called them Adelie penguins.