It's a girl!
The Shedd Aquarium announced Monday at a so-called gender reveal party that its youngest penguin is female. The rockhopper penguin chick was born last June.
Male and female African penguins, including the rockhopper breed, appear physically the same, so the Shedd's veterinary team had to use DNA testing to figure out the gender.
The Shedd houses two kinds of penguins now: the rockhopper penguin and the Magellanic penguin. Rockhopper penguins are known for their small stature, glowing red eyes, yellow plumes sprouting from their eyebrows and the tendency to jump in the water feet first.
The rest of the penguins at the Shedd are preparing for another breeding season now. The rockhopper penguin is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The Shedd began participating in a penguin breeding and rescue program since 1991.
