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The golden-eyed penguin (Megadyptes aureum) is a species of penguin, most closely related to Earth's yellow-eyed penguin, that is native throughout much of the coastlines of Agra on Liera. The golden-eyed penguin is thought to have been directly descended from an extinct species of Megadyptes penguin that was harvested from Earth to Liera during the middle Pleistocene, and had a widespread success on Agra.
The golden-eyed penguin stands 62–79 centimetres (24–31 inches) tall and weighs 3–8.5 kilograms (6.6–18.7 lbs). Weight varies throughout the year, with penguins being heaviest just before moulting, during which they may lose 3-4 kilograms in weight. Males at around 5.53 kilograms (12.2 lbs) on average are somewhat heavier than females at an average of 5.13 kilograms (11.3 lbs). The golden-eyed penguin is most easily identified by the band of pale yellow feathers surrounding its eyes and fades further back to its ears, hence its name. Its forehead, crown, the back and the sides of its head are slate grey flecked with golden yellow. Its eye is yellow. The foreneck and sides of the head are light brown. The back and tail are slate blue-black. Its chest, stomach, thighs and the underside of its flippers are white in colour. Juvenile birds have a greyer head with no yellow band around their eyes. The golden-eyed penguin is mostly silent, however it makes a shrill bray-like call at nest and breeding sites.
Around 90% of the golden-eyed penguin's diet is made up of fish, chiefly species that live near the seafloor. Other species taken are cephalopods such as Lieran arrow squid (Nototodarus minor). However, they also eat some crustaceans, including krill. Recently, jellyfish have been found to be targeted by the golden-eyed penguins. While initially thought that the golden-eyed penguins would prey on jellyfish itself, deployments of camera loggers set up by human explorers revealed that the golden-eyed penguins were going after juvenile fish and larvae associated with jellyfish. Breeding golden-eyed penguins usually undertake two kinds of foraging trips: day trips where the birds leave at dawn and return in the evening ranging up to 25 km from their colonies, and shorter evening trips during which the birds are seldom away from their nest longer than four hours or range farther than 7 km. Golden-eyed penguins are known to be an almost exclusive benthic forager that searches for prey along the seafloor. Accordingly, up to 90% of their dives are benthic dives. This also means that their average dive depths are determined by the water depths within their home ranges.
The golden-eyed penguins are partially colonial nesters, with individual golden-eyed penguins not nesting within sight of each other. While they can be seen coming ashore in groups of four to six or more individuals, they then disperse along tracks to individual nest sites up to one kilometre inland. Nest sites are selected in February and normally two eggs are laid in March. The incubation duties (lasting 39–51 days) are shared by both parents, who may spend several days on the nest at a time. For the first six weeks after hatching, the chicks are guarded during the day by one parent while the other is at sea feeding. The foraging adult returns at least daily to feed the chicks and relieve the partner. After the chicks are six weeks of age, both parents go to sea to supply food to their rapidly growing offspring. Chicks usually fledge in mid-August and are totally independent from then on. Chick fledge weights are generally between 5 and 6 kilograms. First breeding occurs at three to four years of age and long-term partnerships are formed. The golden-eyed penguin may be long lived, with some individuals reaching 20 years of age. Males are generally longer lived than females, leading to a sex ratio of 2:1 around the age of 10–12 years.
The golden-eyed penguin is listed on CITES Appendix I, which means that all international commercial trade in golden-eyed penguins or their body parts is prohibited. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List since 1980, as the golden-eyed penguin is thought to have declined as much as 15-20%, as a result of habitat loss and overhunting for its meat, fat, and oil. The golden-eyed penguin is protected by the conservation laws and there are efforts to minimize the hunting and habitat loss. Captive breeding programs may be beneficial for the species' survival.