How many types of penguins are there?

There are 17 species of penguins found worldwide. From the Galapagos of the tropical Galapagos Islands to the emperor of Antarctica, penguins are found on every continent of the Southern Hemisphere.

The flightless birds spend as much as 75 percent of their time in the water, feeding mainly on fish, squid and krill close to the water surface. At just 16 inches and 2.2 pounds, the blue penguin is the smallest species, while the emperor may reach up to 3.7 feet tall and 60 to 90 pounds. The most common species is the Macaroni penguin, while the endangered Galapagos is the least found.