Big Sphen

Big Sphens are enemies that appear in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port. They are fat, blue penguins with a yellow mohawk, a pair of brown wristbands, and a belt bearing the Snowmad insignia. Big Sphens usually carry a blowing horn with them. Their name comes from Sphenisciformes or Spheniscidae, which is the order and family penguins belong to, respectively.

The Kongs first encounter Big Sphens during the boss level Big Top Bop, where they assist Pompy. They do not have blowing horns in the battle, and their initial attack is to jump out the water and pound onto the arena. Later in the battle, Pompy and three Big Sphens slide around on the arena, performing stunts and attempting to hit the Kongs. The Kongs have the option to avoid Big Sphens, but they are required to hit Pompy.

In later levels, starting with Seashore War, Big Sphens attack by blowing their horn, releasing icy creatures resembling butterfly fish, which slide continuously until they crash into a wall or get stomped by a Kong. Big Sphens move slowly back and forth after each attack. The Kongs can defeat them by jumping on them three times, rolling into them three times, or by throwing a barrel or enemy at them.