Heart and ventricle weights of Antarctic penguins

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Drabek, Charles M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1989
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Aptenodytes forsteri; Pygoscelis adeliae; Pygoscelis antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z89-367; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z89-367

The hearts of Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri), Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica), and Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) were weighed and measured to elucidate morphological parameters that might be functional for diving. These heart parameters are the first to be described for penguins. Heart weights of both the Chinstrap (42.4 g) and Adelie penguins (37.5 g) were greater than predicted for birds of their body size. The weight of the right ventricle in proportion to both the heart and the left ventricle was significantly greater in the Emperor Penguin than in the Chinstrap and Adelie penguins.