The Killer Penguin!!!

Expansion: Extinct Animals

Fame: Infamous

Base Donation Amount: 120

Max Tour Value: 40

Adopt Rarity: No thanks

Prey Classification: XLarge Predator

Zoopedia

Conservation Status: Extinct (But still killer!)

Class: Birds (Aves)

Order: Sphenisciformes

Family: Spheniscidae

Genus: Eudyptes

Species: omnicidus

Tundra

Madagascar

Frankly, the Zoopedia doesn't know how you obtained this crazy penguin. Probably some kind of mistake at the Extinct Research Lab. Anyway, don't try getting another one. One of these is enough to mess up your whole zoo!

Killer penguins earned their name by pecking other animals to death. These psychotic penguins are misplaced Tundra animals that were last seen on the island of Madagascar.

With the classic tuxedo look and fiery red eyes, these killers are as aggressive as their name suggests. It is common for them to fight any animal, any time.

Killer penguins will eat just about anything, and because of this, you shouldn't let any of your other animals near them. Ever.

Oh, also, they tend to not like being fenced in, so the Zoopedia hopes you have a solid fence-building team!

If you're looking for a more docile penguin that makes a better zoo resident, check out the Emperor Penguin.

Fun Killer Penguin Facts

• Killer penguins love long walks on the frozen beach, sunsets, and pecking other animals to death.
• If someone asks you if you want a free penguin, you should say no.
• Students of the sciences, killer penguins can often be found lurking in places where they shouldn't be.

Errors and Trivia

The killer penguin is the only animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 that is not adoptable through the adoption menu, instead being received by being bad at your animal cloning job. Interns, am I right?

Killer penguins have an egg incubation period of one month.

Since the invention of extinct animal cloning in 1990, killer penguins in roadside zoos in countries with lax animal welfare regulations have resulted in the deaths of several tourists, with notable incidents occurring in 2005, 2008, 2012, and 2014.

In a rare display of mercy, killer penguins will not kill and eat guests and a few larger animals (both living species of elephant, both species of hippopotamus, American mastodon, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, whale shark, giant ground sloth, and Triceratops). This is the most egregious factual error in the entire Zoo Tycoon franchise.

Killer penguins are the only species of bird known to have re-evolved true teeth, a discovery that put the nail in the coffin for Dollo's law in vertebrates. Because of this anatomical novelty, it was reassigned as the novel genus Omnicidus in 2009.

Killer Penguin Exhibit Guide

Fun

The cheapest exhibit plan I could find that takes up more than 100 squares is an oblique square costing $2,400. In the future I may do an article on how using diagonals affects Zoo Tycoon 2 fencing costs.

Adoption cost: Your sanity

Space for first animal: 100 squares (400 triangles)

Space per additional animal: 400 squares (2,000 triangles)

Cheapest Fence: Low tundra fence, $75/square, $1,950 total for a 1-animal exhibit

Food: Meat, fish, dinosaur meat, chum, insects, and shrimp, cheapest $150

Enrichment: None required, uses Arctic cod, block of ice with beef shank, and ice floes

Shelter: None required, uses rock island or rock shelter

Native Biome: Tundra (+3)

Other Compatible Biomes: Benthic (+3)

Swims?: Unfortunately, yes

Total Cost: $2,550 for a 1-animal exhibit, excluding foliage, rocks, or the cost of the Extinct Research Lab ($8,000)

Compatible Animals: None, unless you are a fan of the live feeding approach.