QUESTION:
What kind of penguin is most common in Antarctica?

        From Dan and Pete, Wines Elementary School
        Ann Arbor, Michigan
        

ANSWER from Steven Downey, Doctoral Student, University of Illinois
            Wed, 19 Feb 1997 12:16:56 -0500

Dear Dan and Pete,

It's either Chinstrap penguins or Macaroni penguins, depending on what you read.
Macaroni Penguins have the greatest world population, over 23 million
according to the documents I've read.  However, their much of their
population is located outside of the Antarctic.  Chinstrap penguins appear
to be the most common penguins in Antarctica.  Estimates place their world
population, most of which is in Antarctica, in excess of 13 million.

The next closest are Adelie penguins with a population of 8 million and
King penguins at 2 million.  After that, there is a large drop off in
population numbers for the two remaining Antarctic penguin species.  Gentoo
penguins are estimated at 600,000 and Emperors at 300,000.

Thanks for your question!
Steven