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Diving physiology in penguins has been extensively studied within the larger, deep diving species akin to emperor and gentoo penguins, however the blood oxygen storage capability of the mid-depth diving crested penguins is much less understood. For this undertaking, I measured the concentrations of hemoglobin and hematocrit in three species of crested penguins (Fiordland penguin/tawaki, erect-crested penguin, and Eastern rockhopper penguin) in New Zealand to compare oxygen storage capacity and dive depth/time. Data evaluation for this undertaking is still underway, however preliminary results suggest that the larger erect-crested penguin has the very best hemoglobin and hematocrit values of the three suggesting a higher oxygen storage capacity in the blood and extra environment friendly transport of oxygen to the tissues allowing deeper or longer dives. Data from this challenge was cited in New Zealand Geographic 2023 article The future is Written in Penguin Blood (see Media tab for hyperlinks). Publication of a brief notice containing these values is on deck for Notornis.
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