How Do Macaroni Penguins Mate?
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What is a Macaroni Penguin?
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Macaroni penguins are some of the most beautiful and common species of penguin. They are larger than most other species of penguin. Most of them reach an adult height of up to 28 inches. Adult macaroni penguins are very distinctive because they have yellow crests which are located on their heads and around their eyes. They love to eat krill, fish and sometimes squid. These penguins are usually ready to mate when they are 5 or 6 years old or sometimes younger.
The Mating Ritual
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When macaroni penguins are ready to mate they will make calls out to each other and rub their beaks together. They are very affectionate and loving with their mate. The female macaroni penguin will lay flat on her belly and tilt her tail upwards. The male penguin will then mount her from behind and insert sperm inside of her through his penis. The penguins may mate over and over again and continually show affection for each other. These penguins typically like to stick with the same mate for their entire lives. They mate in colonies with other macaroni penguins and stick with their mating pair. The penguins create nests which are usually made out of rocks and pebbles. During mating season the macaroni penguin will lay two eggs. The first egg typically doesn't result in a successful hatch and this egg most likely ends up being food for other animals because it is usually rejected and pushed to the side even if there is a baby chick inside. The second egg is more likely to result in a baby macaroni penguin, but if it doesn't the penguins will not mate again until next year regardless. The first and the second egg are usually laid within about a week of each other.
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The Mating Pair work as a Team
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The interesting thing about macaroni penguins is that the mother and father both take turns sitting on the eggs. This display of team work shown in nature is truly impressive. The male and female will continually take turns sitting on the egg while one or the other goes to get food. During the last shift the male will stay on the egg and when the baby hatches he or she will meet the father penguin first. The egg hatches just over a month after it is initially laid. During the first few weeks of life the chick will rely on his or her father to learn from while the mother takes care of finding food. The father watches over the baby penguin loyally.
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