An international team of researchers has discovered a previously unknown species of gentoo penguin on the Kerguelen archipelago, reports infohub.kz.
Biologists from Chile and the University of California, Berkeley, conducted a comprehensive analysis of complete genomes from 64 individuals across 10 nesting colonies. They found that the species, previously considered a single one, actually comprises four distinct species. The new taxon has been named Pygoscelis kerguelensis.
The isolated geographical position of the Kerguelen Islands in the sub-Antarctic region, located more than 3,000 km from the nearest land and inhabited areas, has long hindered detailed study of the birds. Scientists had classified this species as so-called cryptic: externally, the birds are almost indistinguishable from other gentoo penguins due to their typical black back and white belly, yet their genetic differences have been forming for 300,000 to 500,000 years.
The researchers note that the penguins' feeding habits and attachment to permanent nesting sites have contributed to their evolutionary isolation. The discovery is significant for biodiversity conservation, as island penguin populations may be threatened with extinction due to climate change.