What do penguins eat?
Penguins are carnivorous and primarily eat seafood. Their diet consists mainly of fish, krill (small shrimp-like crustaceans), and squid. The exact proportions vary by species and location. Antarctic species like Adelie and chinstrap penguins rely heavily on krill, while temperate species like the African and Magellanic penguins eat more fish such as sardines, anchovies, and pilchards. Emperor penguins eat a mix of fish, squid, and krill, diving to extraordinary depths to catch their prey. All penguins hunt by pursuit diving, catching prey underwater rather than from the surface.
Related Species
Profiles connected to this answer — continue into habitat, diet, and conservation detail.
Adelie Penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus
African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
Side-by-side comparisons
When the question is really a matchup, open a full comparison page.
Related Questions
Keep learning
Short answers live here. Definitions, long reads, and the full catalogue sit next door.
Where this answer comes from
Reference bodies behind our diet answers. Links last checked August 5, 2026.
- NOAA Fisheries - Marine food webs, climate, and ocean ecosystem context.
- British Antarctic Survey - Antarctic penguin ecology, diving, and sea-ice context.
- Penguins International - Species explainers and conservation context focused on penguins.