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Taxa

Sphenisciformes

Bird Orders

The penguins: flightless, aquatic birds with wings modified into rigid flippers used for swimming rather than flight, a thick layer of insulating fat, and dense, waterproof feathers, confined almost entirely to the Southern Hemisphere.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Order 2
Scientific Name
Sphenisciformes 2
Member Count Band
10 to 100 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Paleogene 4
Disputed
Member Species/Taxa Count
18 2
Approximate described-species (or, for a genus, described-taxon) count; continually revised as species are newly described, reclassified or synonymized.
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Aves, Taxa
Source Catalogue of Life

Parent Taxon Of

Adelie Penguin, Species
Source Catalogue of Life
Emperor Penguin, Species
Source Catalogue of Life
Fiordland Crested Penguin, Species
Source Catalogue of Life
Gentoo Penguin, Species
Source Catalogue of Life
Icadyptes, Species
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Icadyptes salasi
King Penguin, Species
Source Catalogue of Life
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Brazil

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ12198609, descriptionView the Source
2. Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life
  • Taxonomic Rank: Order
  • Scientific Name: Sphenisciformes
  • Member Species/Taxa Count: 18
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Sphenisciformes
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 19
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Paleobiology Database taxon record for Sphenisciformes
Paleobiology Databasetaxon record fields nam, fea (first appearance max age in Ma)
Quote, taxon record fields nam, fea (first appearance max age in Ma)
"nam": "Sphenisciformes", "att": "(Sharpe 1891)", "par": "txn:98891", "rid": "ref:24742", "ext": "1", "noc": 323, "fea": 66, "fla": 59.24
View the Source
Wikidata: Sphenisciformes
Wikidata Q9147, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Icadyptes salasi
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyParent Taxon Of: Icadyptes, Taxon record
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Icadyptes, Taxon record
"order": "Sphenisciformes"
View the Source
Animal Diversity Web: Sphenisciformes (penguins)
Animal Diversity WebIn Group: Waterbird Orders, Order account
Quote, In Group: Waterbird Orders, Order account
Penguins dive well and use their flippers to swim underwater in pursuit of prey items.
View the Source
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