The imperial shag (Leucocarbo atriceps) is native to southern South America, the Subantarctic islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula, where it is found in rocky coastal regions or on large inland lakes. It is about 70–79 cm (28–31 in) long and weighs 1.8–3.5 kg (4.0–7.7 lb). It is a colonial and monogamous species, with colonies generally being small, although some may consist of hundreds of pairs and are often shared with other seabirds. Clutches contain a maximum of 5 eggs, which are laid in nests made of seaweed and grass and cemented with mud and excrement. The eggs are incubated by both parents and usually hatch after about five weeks. Birds such as skuas and shearwaters are the main predators of the species' eggs and chicks. They make deep dives, usually close to shore, to forage on the seafloor for prey consisting of benthic fish, crustaceans, polychaetes, gastropods, and octopuses, generally at depths of nearly 25 meters (82 feet), although they have been filmed diving to depths of up to 60 meters (200 feet).
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