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The black-breasted penguin (Nigricadyptes pectoremagna) is a species of primitive penguin that is native to much of the southwestern and mid-western coastlines of Novolaurasia on Liera, primarily in the tropical, subtropical, temperate, and boreal areas. The black-breasted penguin is closely related to, but not directly descended from the long-extinct Icadyptes that was harvested from Earth to Liera during the late Eocene, having already adapted to the warm coastal areas of the continent, they have changed very little from their ancestors.
The black-breasted penguin is a very large penguin, reaching the height of about 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) tall and weighing between 50 to 80 kilograms (110 to 176 lbs) on average, with a few exceptional specimens growing slightly larger. The adult black-breasted penguin's flippers are black; the inner sides of the flippers are white with black edges. The face is white extending above and behind the eyes, which are reddish brown; the front face, chin, and throat are black, while the very long spear-like beak is yellowish brown with a black tip. The strong legs and the webbed feet are pale pink. Its short, stumpy legs give it a distinct waddle when it walks. The black-breasted penguin's black back and white underside provide camouflage in the form of countershading when viewed from above or below, helping to avoid detection by its predators.
Compared with more derived penguin species, the feet of the black-breasted penguin have a greater role in swimming than those of other penguins, and this species isn't adapted to standing fully upright for prolonged periods. The black-breasted penguin is one of, if not the most aggressive living penguins of Liera, being known to attack rivals and potential threats with their sharp beaks, often causing major injuries and, rarely, deaths among Lieran people through impaling their internal organs with the penguin's beaks. The black-breasted penguins forage in the open sea, where they feed on pelagic fish (such as small whalefish species) and marine invertebrates (such as squids and small crustaceans, primarily krills and shrimps). Black-breasted penguins normally swim within 20 km (12 mi) of the shore. A black-breasted penguin may consume up to 2.37 kilograms (5.22 lbs) of prey every day, but this may increase to over 3.15 kg (6.94 lbs) when raising older chicks. When foraging, black-breasted penguins carry out dives that reach an average depth of 35 meters (114 feet) and last for 89 seconds, although a maximum depth of 150 meters (492 feet) and duration of 339 seconds has been recorded.
The black-breasted penguin is monogamous; it breeds in colonies and pairs return to the same site each year. It has an extended breeding season, with nesting usually peaking from March to May in southwestern Novolaurasia and April to June in mid-western Novolaurasia. A clutch of two eggs are laid either in burrows burrowed in guano or nests in the sand under boulders or bushes. Incubation is undertaken equally by both parents for around 55 days. At least one parent guards the chicks for about 1.5 months, whereafter the chicks join a crèche with other chicks and both parents spend most of the day foraging in the sea. Chicks fledge at 90 to 160 days, the timing depending on environmental factors such as the quality and availability of food. The fledged chicks then go to sea on their own, where they spend the next one to more than two years. They then return to their natal colony to moult into adult plumage. When black-breasted penguins moult, they are unable to forage in the sea as their new feathers are not yet waterproof; therefore, they fast over the entire moulting period. Black-breasted penguins typically take around four weeks to molt and lose about half of their body weight by burning up their fat reserves in the process. The average lifespan of an black-breasted penguin is 20 to around 30 years in the wild and up to 48 in captivity.
The black-breasted penguin is listed on CITES Appendix I, which means that all international commercial trade in black-breasted penguins or their body parts is prohibited. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 1980, however, the black-breasted penguin is thought to have declined as much as 5-10%, as a result of habitat loss and persecution, being hunted after being blamed for attacks on Lieran people children, as a result of the species' aggression. The black-breasted penguin is protected by the conservation laws and there are efforts to minimize persecution and habitat loss. Captive breeding programs may be beneficial for the species' survival.