African Penguin Facts Review

African penguin classification and evolution

The African penguin is a species of penguin small average size that can be found along the coast of South Africa and a number of surrounding islands. The African penguin is believed to be located in southern South America in close relation to the Humboldt and Magellanic penguins and the Galapagos penguin found in the Pacific Ocean near the Ecuador. The African penguin has been for the fact that it is the only species of penguin breeding called on the African coast is, and it is believed that one of the first penguin species to be discovered by humans.

African Penguin Anatomy and appearance

The African penguin is a rather distinctive type of penguin clean black with white markings and a black pointed bill. The African penguin also has black feet and a number of specific brands I sprinkled on them white chest which is said to be so unique for every penguin, like a human finger pressure along with a narrow black band. The male African penguin is usually a bit larger than their female counterparts, but both are very similar in appearance. One of the most obvious manifestations of African penguin is that pink glands, have to deal with temperate climates of their eyes to help them. The hotter the African penguin's blood is sent to these glands, which can be more pink in the ambient air, which in turn makes these glands cool.

African penguin distribution and habitat

The African penguin is on the southwest coast of Africa, living in 27 settlements in 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with the largest colony of Dyer Iceland found near Kleinbaai. African penguins are more densely distributed around the water cooler, nutrient-rich Benguela Current, where there is an abundant food supply. Although derive the majority of their time on the African penguins which nest on rocky islands, where they spend their days in protected caves to avoid the hot sun sea. They are one of the few species of penguins are found in non-freezing conditions and deal with this grave to go, leaving at dusk and pink glands above their eyes, to cool the blood.

African penguin behavior and lifestyle

Like many other species of penguins are very sociable birds African penguins, with adults forming pair bonds that last a lifetime (up to 10 years). African penguins are usually fixed together, constantly reinforcing the social bond between the couple is not only practical for cleaning, but also to remove parasites and even rearrange docks to see. Their courtship are often very noisy as the male and female penguins are called together with a series of sounds-like donkey. African penguins are also known to only a few meters to a bathing place of the banks, they planned to do so fairly regularly clean and submit to cool off in the heat.

Reproduction and life cycles African penguin

African Penguins start to breed with the average age of four, when a man and a woman mate, and tend to grow together for the rest of their lives. The African Penguin either female digs a building or place a bath under a rock or bush, where she lays two eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for up to 40 days, although only one egg usually Hatch. African penguin chicks fed and kept warm by their fathers until one month of age when they are left to themselves, with nurseries with other chicks for protection from predators to start. They tend to stay with their parents until between 3 and 5 months old when they leave the colony (but this depends on the supply and quality of food in the area). The chicks move back to the colony after a few years in their adult plumage. African penguins usually between 10 and 15 years.

African penguin diet and prey

The African penguin is a carnivorous animal that, like all other penguin species, survives on a diet consisting only of marine organisms. Schooling fish like anchovies, sardines, mackerel and herring Round make the most of the diet of African penguins, along with the occasional squid or seafood when normal food is scarce. The aerodynamic body enables African penguin across the water like a rocket, capable of reaching a top speed of about 20 mph on the hunt for food to move. African penguins catch their prey by diving deep into the ocean about 2 minutes at a time. Although they often go to a depth of about 30 meters is not uncommon for hunting are more than 100 meters below the surface.

African penguin predators and threats

The African penguin is the smallest size means there are many predators, both in water and on land. Its marine predators are mainly sharks and sea lions, but the greatest danger to them in the land is not only adult penguins, but the eggs and chicks vulnerable. Kelp Gull Scared ibis and dams have been observed in them from the air and mongoose, snakes and leopards hunt. The African penguin also been severely affected by people in their home regions, with a population believed to have taken a serious decline, mainly due to the use of their eggs for food when it was first discovered. They are also severely affected by the destruction of their natural habitats.

African penguin Interesting Facts and Features

Penguins have more feathers than any other bird, which act as a waterproof layer to keep the skin dry. African penguins moult once a year, they return to their colonies. The whole process takes about 20 days, in time, African Penguins can not swim or eat, and can lose almost half of their body weight. African penguins are known for a long time to go fishing on the high seas and depending on the environment can travel 30-110 km in one trip. But these African penguins, which feed the chicks rarely go as far as catching food near the coast, and as soon as possible. The African penguin also called Jackass penguins that are made by the call-donkey as during their courtship rituals.

African penguin relationship with people

It is generally believed that African penguins were one of the first species of penguins, in contact with people who come because of the fact that they are in the temperate coast of South Africa and not in the heart of Antarctica. However, this seems to have worked for the benefit of birds and their eggs were stolen food (slow play) and the guano was used in the nest harvested for fertilizer. Today other threats outside the African penguin competition including spills and commercial food fish oil in the water. Only a handful of nesting sites can be accessed by tourists, but human nature nervous penguin means that these areas should be closely monitored.

African Penguin Conservation Status and Life Today

Today, the African penguin is considered endangered animals and has been classified as endangered by IUCN. It is believed that the African penguin population today of about 70,000 breeding pairs, less than 10% of the population that existed in 1900. In the 1950s, the population of African penguins had halved, then cut in half by 1980. There is approximately a 2% decrease in the African penguin population every year, mainly through the consumption of their eggs, competition for food and habitat disruption.

African Penguin Facts

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Sphenisciformes

Family: Spheniscidae

Genre: Spheniscus

Scientific name: Spheniscus demersus

Common name: African Penguin

Name (s): Jackass Penguin

Group: Birds

Number of species: 1

Location: Southwest coast of Africa

Habitat: Rocky Ocean Islands

Color: Black, white, gray

Skin type: springs

Size (H): 60cm - 68cm (24 inches - 27 inches)

Weight: 2 kg - 5 kg (€ 4.4 - £ 11)

Top speed: 20kph (12.4 mph)

Diet: Carnivore

Prey: fish, squid, crustaceans

Predators: sharks, sea lions, seagulls

Lifestyle: Day

Group behavior: Colony

Water type: Salt

Life expectancy: 10 - 15 years

Age of sexual maturity: 3 - 4 years

Incubation: 40 days

Average clutch size: 2

Young names: chick

Fledging Age: 3 - 5 months

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Estimated population: 140,000

Greatest threat: habitat disturbance

The most striking feature pink glands above their eyes

Fun fact: The only species of penguins in Africa!