Emperor Penguin vs Short-tail lantern shark

Aptenodytes forsteri compared with Etmopterus brachyurus

Key Differences

• Emperor Penguin is Near Threatened while Short-tail lantern shark is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Emperor Penguin	Short-tail lantern shark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Sphenisciformes (Penguins)	Squaliformes (Squaliformes)
Family	Spheniscidae (Penguins)	Etmopteridae
Genus	Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)	Etmopterus
Species	Aptenodytes forsteri	Etmopterus brachyurus

Evolutionary Relationship

Emperor Penguin and Short-tail lantern shark share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Emperor Penguin

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~595.0K

Trend: Stable →

Short-tail lantern shark

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Emperor Penguin	Short-tail lantern shark
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	20 years	—
Average Length	1.1 m	—
Average Weight	40.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Emperor Penguin

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Short-tail lantern shark

Habitat

Native to Asia and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Chile and Taiwan.

Emperor Penguin

The world's largest penguin, emperor penguins stand up to 1.2 meters and weigh 45 kg, inhabiting the Antarctic continent in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They breed in midwinter darkness at temperatures below -60°C, with males incubating single eggs on their feet under a brood pouch for 65 days while females are at sea. Their huddling behavior — cycling individuals through the warm center of thousands-strong groups — is a masterclass in cooperative survival.