Homeless Penguins In The Rain

The number of species remaining is still a subject of controversy. In different types of texts people list from 16 to 19 species. Some authors have also suggested that the white flipper penguin is a separate species of small diving bird (Eudyptula), although it is now generally considered a subspecies of small penguin (e.g. Williams, 1995; Davis & Renner, 2003). Similarly, it is not clear whether the royal penguin is merely a color variation of the Macaroni penguin. Also suitable to be considered as a separate species is the northern population of Rockhopper penguins (Davis & Renner, 2003). Although all extant penguins are native to the southern hemisphere, contrary to popular belief, they are not only found in cold climates, such as Antarctica. In fact, only a few species of penguins actually live that far south. There are three species that inhabit the tropics; a species that lives as far north as the Galápagos Islands (Galápagos penguins) and occasionally crosses the equator while feeding.