What is the name given to the largest of all the penguins?

The largest of all living penguins is the emperor penguin. Known scientifically as Aptenodytes forsteri, it is both the tallest and heaviest penguin species, with adults reaching roughly 1.1 to 1.3 metres in height and weighing substantially more than other penguins.

Emperor penguins live exclusively in Antarctica and breed during the continent’s harsh winter. After the female lays a single egg, the male balances it on his feet beneath a fold of skin called a brood pouch. He may incubate it for about two months while fasting, relying on stored body fat as the female returns to sea to feed.

Their dense feathers, fat reserves and tightly packed huddles help them survive extreme cold and powerful winds. They can also dive for long periods while hunting fish, squid and crustaceans beneath Antarctic sea ice.

The king penguin is a frequent source of confusion because it is also large and has vivid orange-yellow markings. However, the emperor penguin is taller and heavier. Both species belong to the genus Aptenodytes, but only the emperor is the largest living penguin.