South African Penguin
The South African penguin is found only on the southern coasts of the African continent. Like all penguins it cannot fly, but is a very effective swimmer.
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Spheniscus
Species: S. demersus
Common Names: African Penguin, Cape Penguin, South African Penguin, Black-footed Penguin, Jackass Penguin
South African penguins feed on fish, squid and shrimp that they hunt in the open sea, usually within 12 miles of the shore. They frequently dive over 80 feet deep, and can dive over 400 feet deep on rare occasions. They can stay underwater for nearly five minutes in such cases.
South African penguins are monogamous, meaning two penguins will stay together as a couple for most of their lives. The penguins form large breeding colonies at the same location every year. The nesting season usuallylasts from March to May in the South African portion of the penguins’ range, while in Namibia it lasts from November to December.
Two eggs are laid in nests made from penguin guano, or droppings. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, and the chicks hatch after about 40 days. After a month of being guarded by at least one parent penguin, the chicks will join a larger group of other penguin chicks while both parents take to the sea to find food.
Like most penguin species, the South African penguin’s feathers are black and white. Its body is streamlined and designed to travel through water, with wings that resemble flippers of a whale, or fins on a fish. They grow to just over two feet long and can weigh up to 11 pounds.
It features pinkish patches around its eyes, which are used to help regulate the penguin’s body temperature. To heat up the penguin, more blood flows through the pink patches, making them look even pinker as the penguin heats up.
It is able to produce a loud call that sounds like a donkey, leading to one of its nicknames, the Jackass penguin.
South African penguins are members of the banded penguin genus Spheniscus, which are found mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. Its relatives include the Humboldt penguin and the Galapagos penguin.
The South African penguin was first classified by naturalist George Edwards in 1747, though he referred to it as the “black-footed penguin”.
South African penguins are considered Endangered, and face many threats from humans. Their eggs have been historically collected to be eaten. The penguins’ droppings were also collected for use as fertilizer, which removed important nesting material from penguin colonies.
Oil spills have also had a substantial effect on harming South African penguins and polluting their habitat. Their food source of sardines is also impacted by commercial fisheries.
At the beginning of the 1800s, there were an estimated 4million South African penguins in the wild. By 2019, it was thought that there are just over 20,000 breeding pairs left.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_penguin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_penguin
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/birds/penguins/African_penguin.html
Safari Ltd South African Penguin Toys: