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Naked penguin with mend of bare tegument have been popping up in the South Atlantic in recent years , puzzling scientists as to what could be causing a condition make love as feather - loss disorder .
New research has now document the balding in chicks of African penguins ( Spheniscus demersus ) and Magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) in enslavement and in the state of nature , suggest possible campaign of the disorder , which can lead to slower growth and even death in some chick . [ The 500 Cutest Animals ]
A “naked” Magellanic penguin chick at Punta Tombo, site of the most important colony for the species.
" Feather - departure disorder are rare in most snort species , and we ask to deal further subject field to set the cause of the disorder and if this is in fact spreading to other penguin coinage , " state P. Dee Boersma of the Wildlife Conservation Society ( WCS ) , in a command . Boersma has conducted studies on Magellanic penguins for more than three decades .
scientist first discovered the feather - loss disorderliness in African penguin chicks in a renewal center in Cape Town , South Africa . [ Images of balding penguin chicks ]
During 2006 , about 7 percent of the 854 African penguin bird admitted to the facility lost their feathers , a number that increased to 18 percent of 538 admitted in 2007 , and then dropped to 11 pct of the chicks admitted in 2008 . In 2008 , scientists found the disorder in African penguin chicks in the state of nature .
Feather-loss disorder has also been observed in African penguins, which inhabit the coast and offshore islands of South Africa.
Meanwhile in 2007 , on the other side of the South Atlantic , researchers from WCS and the University of Washington discovered feather - going disorder in the skirt of wild Magellanic penguin , which are intimately related to to African penguin . They identified the upset in 13 penguins from four Colony along Argentina ’s coastline .
And while the feathered chicks sought out specter in Argentina ’s raging midday sun , featherless chicks remained in the sun ’s glare . In fact , several of the " naked " chicks died during the study ( though after several workweek , four of the penguins uprise normal juvenile feather ) .
In both South Africa and Argentina , penguin chickswith feather - loss disorder grew more slowly and were smaller than feather chicks . Their small size and lighter free weight were likely due to the increased energy spent in keep their bodies at a goodly temperature in the absence seizure of an insulating coat of feathering and/or down .
A researcher holding a featherless Magellanic penguin chick. Researchers hope to learn more about feather-loss disorder (which can result in smaller chicks and increased mortality) in order to identify the cause and perhaps stop it from spreading.
" The main problem with this disorder is that biddy must put supererogatory energy into thermoregulation and thus have high up-and-coming demands than normal chicks making famishment more probable , " said study research worker Olivia Kane of the University of Washington in Seattle . " Also , bet on the atmospheric condition they may die out from pic . "
Feather - going disorders — though uncommon — can be because of pathogens , thyroid disorders , nutritious imbalances , pollution or genetic science , the researchers say . They are n’t sure whether the disease is infectious and spreads between penguin .
" I think it is very likely we will see this in other metal money of penguins , " Kane told LiveScience . " We do not know what make the disorder yet so can not say whether or not it is infectious . "
However , the researchers did find that " feather loss was more unwashed in the rehabilitation center than in the wild , indicate the disorder is more likely to occur in close link and enclosed spaces , " the research worker write in the current event of the diary Waterbirds .
" We need to see how to intercept the spread of feather - loss disorder , as penguins already haveproblems with oil pollutionand clime variation , " Boersma said . " It ’s authoritative to keep disease from being added to the leaning of menace they confront . "
In retiring research , Boersma has found thatMagellanic penguin numbersat Punta Tombo , Argentina , have declined by more than 20 pct in the last two decades , from 300,000 to just 200,000 genteelness pairs .
you may espouse LiveScience managing editor in chief Jeanna Bryner on Twitter@jeannabryner .
