Megadyptes
Definition
Megadyptes is a genus containing a single living species: the yellow-eyed penguin (M. antipodes), also known as hoiho in Maori. The genus name means 'large diver'. The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the rarest penguin species, with a total population estimated at around 4,000 individuals. Unlike most penguins, yellow-eyed penguins are solitary nesters that prefer forest or scrubland rather than open colonies. A second species, M. waitaha, went extinct after Polynesian settlement of New Zealand around the 13th century.
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Related Species
Species where megadyptes is especially relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does megadyptes mean in penguin biology?
Megadyptes is a genus containing a single living species: the yellow-eyed penguin (M. antipodes), also known as hoiho in Maori. The genus name means 'large diver'. The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the rarest penguin species, with a total population estimated at around 4,000 individuals. Unlike most penguins, yellow-eyed penguins are solitary nesters that prefer forest or scrubland rather than open colonies. A second species, M. waitaha, went extinct after Polynesian settlement of New Zealand around the 13th century.
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More in taxonomyWhere this definition comes from
Reference bodies behind the taxonomy terminology. Links last checked August 5, 2026.
- IUCN Red List - Global conservation assessments and extinction-risk categories.
- BirdLife Data Zone - Species accounts, distribution, and population summaries.
- Australian Museum - Little penguin biology and coastal breeding behavior.