African penguin

Spheniscus demersus · The African penguin is a flightless seabird that lives along the coast of southern Africa, in South Africa and Namibia.

Also called Cape penguin, South African penguin, Black-footed penguin, Jackass penguin.

African penguin
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
African penguin
Photo: lumoplank, CC0
African penguin
Photo: Krigore, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderSphenisciformes
FamilySpheniscidae
GenusSpheniscus
SpeciesSpheniscus demersus

Where it lives

Coasts and islands from central Namibia to Algoa Bay.

Fun facts

  • The black spots and stripe on an African penguin's chest are unique to each bird, just like human fingerprints.
  • African penguins get their nickname "jackass penguin" from the loud, donkey-like braying noises they make.
  • The pink patches above an African penguin's eyes help it cool down: as it warms up, more blood flows to them and they turn pinker.
  • When African penguins moult, their new feathers aren't waterproof yet, so they fast for about three weeks and lose around half their body weight.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).