Download African Penguin Fact Sheet

African Penguin Fact Sheet
Scientific Name: Spheniscus demersus
Common Name: African Penguin; Black-footed penguin
Status: IUCN:
Endangered
CITES:
Appendix II
Bonn Convention:
Appendix II
Size: African penguins are about 60cm tall, and weigh between 2.4 and
3.6kgs
Figure 1 - Breeding pair (Photo: Christina
Hagen)
Life span: 10 years
Distribution: Found in southern Africa. Known to breed on 28 localities from
Hollamsbird Island, Namibia to Bird Island in Algoa Bay, South Africa. Two
mainland colonies exist in South Africa’s Western Cape. Non-breeding birds
have been found op to Gabon in the west and Mozambique in the east.
Habitat: Occurs within 40km of coast, preferring rocky off-shore islands to
breed, rest and moult.
Figure 2 - Adult and chicks (Photo: Craig
Harding)
Biology:
Breeding: Usually breeds for the first time between 4 and 6 years of age.
Nests are dug out in sand, guano, under rocks or on the surface, preferably
under shade. Incubation lasts for an average of 40 days.
Clutch size: usually 2 eggs, sometimes 1, rarely 3.
Breeding season:
Namibia:
November - December
South Africa:
March - May
Moulting: Ranges between 13 and 40 days, when plumage is completely
replaced.
Namibia:
April - May
South Africa:
November - January
Figure 3 - Different spot patterns on the
white chest and belly can be seen (Photo:
Craig Harding)
Chicks: Once hatched, the parents will take it in turns to guard and feed
the chicks until they are about 30 days old. Thereafter chicks are left alone
in crèches. When they are between 60-130 days old they develop juvenile
plumage and are able to venture into the ocean and leave the colony.
Figure 4 - Pink glands above the eye helps
regulate body temperature (Photo: Ross
Wanless)
African Penguin Fact Sheet
Food: mainly anchovies (Engraulis capensis) and sardines (Sardinops sagax).
Swimming: These penguins can reach up to 20km/h while hunting and can dive up to 60m deep for 2.5 minutes.
Threats:
Historically:
Egg-collection
Guano collection
Current:
Depleted fish stocks
Oil pollution
Predation by seals and gulls
Climate change
Fun facts:
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Each African Penguin has a different pattern of black spots on its white chest and belly, which observers
use to identify individual animals.
They were previously called Jackass Penguins, due to their call that sounded like the braying of a
donkey. The name was changed to African Penguin due to other species of penguin making similar
sounds, and in addition to that, S. demersus is the only species of penguin on the African continent!
Predators looking down from above struggle to see their black backs against the dark ocean; predators
looking up from the water struggle to see their white bellies against the sky – therefore these animals
are almost perfectly camouflaged from predators while swimming!
Their name Spheniscus demersus is derived from the Greek word spen, meaning wedge, as a reflection
of their shape when swimming. Demersus is a Latin word, meaning plunging.
The pink markings above their eyes are glands. When the penguin gets hot, more blood rushes to the
glands to be cooled down.