A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer, Spitsbergen, Norway

Adult black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) wading and feeding in a brackish water lagoon at Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, Pacific Ocean.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) spinning, possibly to dislodge attached remoras, Lanai, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

Adult gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) along the Langanes peninsula, Iceland

Lindblad Expeditions guests with a lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice in the Gullet between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba) in breeding plumage with a capelin in its beak in Chatham Strait, Southeast Alaska, USA, Pacific Ocean.

Galapagos white-cheeked pintail (Anas bahamensis galapagensis) feeding near giant tortoise in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) spinning, possibly to dislodge attached remoras, Lanai, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) underwater at Los Islotes (the islets) just outside of La Paz, Baja California Sur in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) with Lindblad Expedition guests at Brown Bluff near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

Razorbill egg (Alca torda). L'Etac, Sark, British Channel Islands

South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) hauled out on small rocky islet just outside Ushuaia, Beagle Channel, Argentina

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) wading and feeding in a brackish water lagoon at Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, Pacific Ocean.

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) breeding colony on Steeple Jason Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) defending a fresh kill against an intruder, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf with excited whale watchers in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico

A lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) and crabeater seal on sea ice in the Gullet between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Two young polar bears (Ursus maritimus) disputing feeding rights on a fresh bearded seal kill, Spitsbergen, Norway

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult on snow, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Lindblad Expeditions guests on board the National Geographic Explorer with a lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice, Antarctica

Long-beaked common dolphin pod (Delphinus capensis) bow riding the National Geographic Sea Bird, southern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Sur, Mexico

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) defending a fresh kill against an intruder, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Long-beaked common dolphin pod (Delphinus capensis) encountered in the southern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Sur, Mexico

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) observed by National Geographic Explorer along the northwestern coast of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Curious king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Lindblad Expeditions guests with a lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice in the Gullet between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

A curious cow calf and escort humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) approach the boat underwater in the AuAu Channel, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

A small pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca) off Ascension Island in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adult and chick at breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plains in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) spinning, possibly to dislodge attached remoras, Lanai, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf with excited whale watchers in San Ignacio Lagoon on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula, Baja California Sur, Mexico

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) defending a fresh kill against an intruder, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf with excited whale watchers in San Ignacio Lagoon on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Leucistic Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Adult surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) taking flight in Glacier Bay National Park, Southeast Alaska, USA, Pacific Ocean.

Two young polar bears (Ursus maritimus) feeding side-by-side on a fresh bearded seal kill near Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) taking flight in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer in Woodfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on a fresh bearded seal kill near Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Curious adult leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) approaches Zodiac near Booth Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

An adult spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica) leaping from the calm waters off Isla Danzante in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California, Mexico.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub swimming. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) during snow storm at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Curious Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) looking up at National Geographic Explorer, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer in Woodfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) near the abandoned whaling station at Stromness Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) near the abandoned whaling station at Stromness Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Northern (Steller) sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) close-up eating a small skate in Southeastern Alaska, USA

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) Catching, flailing, and eating a chinstrap penguin at Point Wild on Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, Southern Ocean

Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) near the abandoned whaling station at Stromness Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Lindblad Expeditions guests with a lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice in the Gullet between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) during snow storm at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult on snow, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Young Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) at play underwater in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub hunting, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in the AuAu Channel, Hawaii, USA. Pacific Ocean

Adult leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice floe near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf with excited whale watchers in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony at Baily Head on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

An adult Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax falklandicus) foraging at low tide on Carcass Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub swimming. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) sub-surface feeding among black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), west of Spitsbergen, Barents Sea, Norway

Adult brown bear pair (Ursus arctos) mock-fighting at Scidmore Cut in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, USA. Pacific Ocean

Adult macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) porpoising for speed while traveling to their breeding colony on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Adult Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) surface skim feeding on euphausids off Isla del Carmen, Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Sur, Mexico

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adults and cub hunting, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice floe near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

Young Galapagos sea lion bulls (Zalophus wollebaeki) mock-fighting in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) underwater with snorkeler in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

A younger polar bear (Ursus maritimus) scavenging a fresh bearded seal kill, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Adult macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) porpoising for speed while traveling to their breeding colony on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult with seal kill. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Lindblad Expeditions staff member Lisa Trotter next to a HUGE adult male leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on the beach at Salisbury Plains in the Bay of Isles, Southern Ocean

Long-beaked common dolphin pod (Delphinus capensis) encountered in the southern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Sur, Mexico

A curious cow calf and escort humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) approach the boat underwater in the AuAu Channel between the islands of Maui and Lanai, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Ad?lie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) with Lindblad guests in snowstorm at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea , Antarctica.

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer in Woodfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf with excited whale watchers in San Ignacio Lagoon on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick head detail at colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. There are an estimated 2 million breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic peninsula region alone, perhaps as many as 7.5 million breeding pairs in all of Antarctica. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 68 cm (27 in). The average adult weight of a Chinstrap Penguin is 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Weight can range from 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2 lbs), with males being slightly larger and weight varying based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp, and fish. On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20?30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50?60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea. The Chinstrap Penguin was first described by German naturalist Forster in 1781. Its specific epithet was often seen as antarctica, however a 2002 review determined the genus Pygoscelis was masculine, and hence the correct binomial name is Pygoscelis antarcticus.

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) in surf conditions at Baily Head on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica