Feather-loss Disorder in African and Magellanic Penguins

KANE, OLIVIA; SMITH, JEFFREY; BOERSMA, DEE; PARSSONS, NOLA; STRAUSS, VENESSA; GARCÍA BORBOROGLU, PABLO; VILLANUEVA, CECILIA

Boston, Massachusets, Estados Unidos

Congreso; VIII International Penguin Conference; 2010

New England Aquarium

A new feather-loss disorder of unknown cause, first reported in African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) chicks in 2006 and in Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) chicks in 2007, reduced growth and likely survival. The disorder disrupted feather growth in both species, resulting in chicks with bare skin for several weeks. Feather loss caused most African Penguin chicks to grow adult instead of juvenile plumage. In contrast, Magellanic Penguin chicks grew juvenile plumage, the same as chicks without the disorder. The phase of feather development at which feather loss occurs may explain this disparity. African featherless chicks in the rehabilitation center took 16 days longer to reach release weight than feathered chicks. Magellanic featherless chicks grew slower and were smaller than featherless chicks. In the African rehabilitation center, mortality rates were similar for featherless and feathered chicks. Unlimited food and time for development supplied by the center likely contributed to featherless chick survival. Feather loss likely increases mortality in the wild because of the higher energy needs of the chick and their longer chick rearing period. The disorder order could be detrimental to Antarctic penguin populations where loss of down would result in death.