Which penguin is the fastest underwater swimmer?

The gentoo penguin is the fastest underwater swimmer among penguins. It can reach speeds of roughly 36 kilometres per hour, allowing it to outrun other penguin species while chasing fish and avoiding predators.

Gentoos are medium-sized penguins recognized by the broad white stripe above each eye and their bright orange-red bills and feet. They breed on the Antarctic Peninsula and on sub-Antarctic islands such as the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Their streamlined bodies, strong flippers, and relatively stiff feathers help them move efficiently through cold seawater.

Underwater speed is especially important because gentoo penguins feed at sea, pursuing fish, squid, and crustaceans. They may dive repeatedly during a foraging trip, using their flippers for propulsion and their feet mainly for steering. Their speed also gives them a better chance of escaping leopard seals and other marine predators.

The Adelie, king, and emperor penguins are excellent swimmers too, so they are plausible distractors. Emperor penguins are the largest and deepest-diving penguins, but “deepest-diving” is not the same distinction as “fastest underwater swimmer.”