The genus ''Pygoscelis'' ("rump-legged") contains three living species of penguins collectively known as "brush-tailed penguins".

Taxonomy

Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests the genus split from other penguins around 38 million years ago, about 2 million years after the ancestors of the genus ''

Aptenodytes The genus ''Aptenodytes'' contains two extant species of penguins collectively known as "the great penguins". Etymology The name "Aptenodytes" is a composite of Ancient Greek elements, "ἀ-πτηνο-δύτης" (without-wings-diver). Taxon ...

''. In turn, the Adelie penguins split off from the other members of the genus around 19 million years ago. ;Extant species A 2020 study found that the gentoo penguin may actually comprise a

species complex In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

of 4 similar but genetically distinct species: the northern gentoo penguin (''P. papua''), the southern gentoo penguin (''P. ellsworthi''), the eastern gentoo penguin (''P. taeniata''), and the newly-described South Georgia gentoo penguin (''P. poncetii''). However, in 2021 the

International Ornithological Congress International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

recognized these as being subspecies of ''P. papua''. A study has estimated that there are about 3.79 million pairs of Adélie, 387,000 pairs of gentoo, and 8 million pairs of chinstrap penguins in their particular areas, making up 90% of Antarctic avian biomass (Black, C. E. 2016). ;Fossil species * ''

Pygoscelis grandis The genus ''Pygoscelis'' ("rump-legged") contains three living species of penguins collectively known as "brush-tailed penguins". Taxonomy Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests the genus split from other penguins around 38 milli ...

'' (

Bahía Inglesa Formation Caldera Basin ( es, Cuenca de Caldera) is a sedimentary basin located in the coast of northern Chile west of Copiapó. The basin has a fill of marine sediments of Late Cenozoic age. With a north-south extension of and an east-west width of the ...

, Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Bahía Inglesa, Chile) * ''

Pygoscelis calderensis The genus ''Pygoscelis'' ("rump-legged") contains three living species of penguins collectively known as "brush-tailed penguins". Taxonomy Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests the genus split from other penguins around 38 milli ...

'' (Bahía Inglesa Formation, Late Miocene of Bahía Inglesa, Chile) * ''

Pygoscelis tyreei ''Pygoscelis tyreei'', also referred to as Tyree's penguin, is an extinct species of penguin from New Zealand. It was slightly smaller than the extant gentoo penguin, standing 70 to 80 cm high. Of Late Pliocene age, it is known only from ...

'' (Pliocene of New Zealand) The latter two are tentatively assigned to this genus.

References

{{Authority control Bird genera Penguins