Penguin Watch Talk

Guano colour

  • BellisP by BellisP

    Hello. I wonder if the scientists can explain why some of the guano here seems to be red?

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  • vroni by vroni moderator

    Hi, if I remember correctly, it depends on the diet. The guano is pink/red from the Krill the Penguins eat.

    Posted

  • BellisP by BellisP

    thank you Vroni
    this makes sense of something else too. on some sites the mud looks very red and i wondered how, given that the rocks are grey (not red), but the answer seems to be, it isn't just mud!

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  • PenguinHila by PenguinHila scientist, translator

    You are correct. We sometimes see pink or red guano from diets heavy in krill, while fish and squid remnants tend to color the guano white. Penguins have very rapid, high-throughput digestive systems. What they eat comes out somewhat intact, so we can see claws, shells, and sometimes bones from their prey.

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