Scientific Name:
Spheniscus demersus
Distribution
Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa
Diet:
Various fish species, crustaceans and cephalopods
Facts
Habitat: Sandy inshore islands, rocky islands
Incubation: 38 days / 1-2 eggs
Social structure: 25 - 150 individuals
Weight: 2.1-3.7kg
Dimensions: height 60-70cm
Lifespan: 27 max
Estimated population in the wild: 41,700
Threats: Over-fishing, oil pollution, guano collection, illegal egg collection.
IUCN Status: Endangered
Did you know that:
- Birds that fly have hollow bones, but the penguin has solid bones.
- Penguins are monogamous. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.
- They can reach swimming speed up of to 20km/hour and can dive up to 60m in depth.
- They are also called “jackass” penguins because of the distinctive donkey-like braying sound they make.