Two sub-species of this penguin are recognised: Pygoscelis papua papua and the smaller Pygoscelis papua ellsworthii.
Males have a maximum weight of about 8 kg just before moulting, and a minimum weight of about 5.5 kg just before mating. For females the maximum weight is 7.5 kg just before moulting, but their weight drops to below 5 kg when guarding the chicks in the nest.
Gentoos breed on many sub-Antarctic islands. The main colonies are on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Kerguelen Islands; smaller populations are found on Macquarie Island, Heard Islands, South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The total breeding population is estimated to be over 300,000 pairs.


