| African Penguin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Sphenisciformes |
| Family: | Spheniscidae |
| Genus: | Spheniscus |
| Species: | Spheniscus demersus |
The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Jackass Penguin and Black-footed Penguin, is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. It is also widely known as the "jackass" penguin for its donkey-like bray, although several related species of South American penguins produce the same sound.
Description[]
Like all extant penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Adults weigh on average 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb) and are 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall. It has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask; the body upperparts are black and sharply delineated from the white underparts, which are spotted and marked with a black band. The pink gland above their eyes helps them to cope with changing temperatures. When the temperature gets hotter, the body of the African penguin sends more blood to these glands to be cooled by the air surrounding it. This then causes the gland to turn a darker shade of pink.
Behavior[]
Feeding[]
The African penguin is a pursuit diver and feeds primarily on fish, crustaceans and squid. When hunting underwater, it can dive in speeds up to 20 km per hour. On average, the duration of immersion is 2.5 minutes and the depth is 30 m, although dives of up to 130 m have been recorded. The distance covered during feeding depends on both the time and the position of the colony. On the west coast, African Penguins swim 30-70 km in one feeding, while on the south coast, they swim 110 km. At a time when parents are feeding the chicks, the movement of birds is more limited.
Breeding and Nesting[]
The African Penguin is monogamous and the same pair usually returns to the same colony and nest. It is estimated that 80-90% of pairs stay together for the next breeding season. There have been cases where partners have stayed together for more than 10 years.
Nesting under cover of something gives the shade needed to protect the chicks from overheating. They begin to reproduce at the age of 2-6 years, but usually at 4 years. In most colonies, birds at any stage of the nesting cycle can be found throughout the year. There are some regional differences; the peak of reproduction in Namibia occurs in November-December, while in South Africa, it occurs in March-May.
The clutch consists of 2 eggs. Both parents take turns incubating them for 40 days. The male and female take care of the chicks, and for the first 15 days, until they have established thermoregulation, one of them constantly warms the chicks. Until one month of age, while the chicks are still young, one of the parents protects them from gulls. After that, parents can go to the sea for food for the chicks. At this time, the penguins form a huddle, which serves mainly to protect them from the predation of gulls and attacks by other adult birds. They leave the colony at the age of 60-130 days.
The length of the breeding season, the weight of young birds, and the productivity of the breeding season depend on the availability and quality of food. Leaving the colony, the young birds become independent. They spend 12 to 22 months at sea, after which they return to their native colony, where they molt their plumage.
Distribution and Habitat[]
Being the only species of penguin that is native to the African continent, its distribution roughly coincides with the cold Benguela Current, but to a greater extent, it is also present in the coastal islands suitable for nesting. There are currently 27 distinct colonies of African Penguins, of which only 3 are on the continental African mainland coast. In 10 more places, these birds no longer nest, although they nested there before. It breeds colonially mostly on rocky islands, in burrows dug by the birds themselves, or in pits under the cover of bushes or rocks. Previously, on most islands, nests were made in pits made in a layer of guano. However, after the removal of guano, most birds began to nest either on the soil surface or under cover of bushes or other objects.
Status[]
Once extremely numerous, the African Penguin is declining due to a combination of threats and is classified as endangered. It is a charismatic species and is popular with tourists.