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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: 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.