Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest

African Penguin

(Spheniscus Demersus)

The African penguin is found along the southwestern coast of Africa, where it breeds primarily on 24 offshore islands between Namibia and Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The climate in this area is much warmer than that of Antarctica, so these penguins rarely see snow or ice. There are only approximately 120,000 African penguins left in the wild and the species is listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

The greatest threats to it are oil spills and over-fishing of its food source by man. In earlier times, this penguin was hunted for its meat, feathers and hides. The diet of the African penguin consists of a range of marine organisms including fishes, crustaceans and squid, as well as polychaete worms. Its body is adapted for life at sea: it can swim up to fifteen miles per hour, dive to about 30 feet and stay submerged for up to one minute.

Fun Facts

• The African penguins in the Georgia Aquarium wear bracelets of colored beads on their wings so that staff can identify individuals.
• This penguin may have up to 300 feathers per square inch on its body.
• Its underwater vision is excellent, but it is near-sighted on land.
• This species is also called the “jackass penguin” for its loud, braying call.
• Adult African penguins are preyed upon by seals and sharks. Hatchlings and young fall prey to gulls, skuas and ibis.
• Download full fact sheet

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