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Scientists Identify Four Gentoo Penguin Species in Chilean-U.S. Study

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 6:40 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. and Chilean scientists announced a penguin species, the southeastern gentoo (Pygoscelis kerguelensis).
The bird lives on subantarctic Kerguelen and Heard Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.
The finding, published April 2026 in Communications Biology, shows gentoo penguins comprise four distinct species.
Researchers linked the penguins’ flexible diet and island isolation to their evolutionary split.
Scientists warned climate change could shrink suitable habitat for three of the four gentoo species.

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Story summary

U.S. and Chilean scientists announced a penguin species, the southeastern gentoo (Pygoscelis kerguelensis).
The bird lives on subantarctic Kerguelen and Heard Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.
The finding, published April 2026 in Communications Biology, shows gentoo penguins comprise four distinct species.
Researchers linked the penguins’ flexible diet and island isolation to their evolutionary split.
Scientists warned climate change could shrink suitable habitat for three of the four gentoo species.