Emperor Penguin vs smooth hound

Aptenodytes forsteri compared with Mustelus mustelus

Key Differences

Emperor Penguin is Near Threatened while smooth hound is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Emperor Penguin	smooth hound
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Order	Sphenisciformes (Penguins)	Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Family	Spheniscidae (Penguins)	Triakidae
Genus	Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)	Mustelus
Species	Aptenodytes forsteri	Mustelus mustelus

Evolutionary Relationship

Emperor Penguin and smooth hound share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Emperor Penguin

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~595.0K

Trend: Stable →

smooth hound

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Emperor Penguin	smooth hound
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.

smooth hound

Habitat

Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.