Kingdom : Animalia Class : Aves Family : Spheniscidae Group : Bird Scientific Name : Spheniscus demersus Colour : Black, White, Grey Skin Type : Feathers Life Span : 10 -15 years Size(H) : 60cm - 68cm (24in - 27in) Weight : 2kg - 5kg (4.4lbs - 11lbs) Top Speed : 20kph (12.4mph) Distrinctive Feature : Pink glands above their eyes Fun Fact : The only penguin species in Africa!
- African Penguins are thought to be one of the first species to be discovered.
- They are small- medium in size, found along the south-western African coast.
- They are closely related to the penguin species found along the equator.
- The dot-like markings on their chest are said to be unique for each penguin.
- Distinctively, they have pink glands above their eyes which help them keep cool.
- They are the only Penguin species to live in a non-freezing habitat.
- They are very sociable and often help in grooming each other.
- Adult African Penguins are known to form a bond lasting their lifetime.
- During courtship, they make donkey like sounds for which they are also called Jackass Penguins.
- After mating, the female penguin lays two eggs, with parents taking turns to incubate them.
- The penguin chicks stay together in groups called crèches to ward off their predators.
- The African Penguins hunt in deep waters and feed on marine organisms.
- They have predators on land and in sea because of their small size.
- Their eggs and chicks also fall prey to a few birds, snakes and leopards.
- Interestingly, their moulting process lasts around 20 days, when they don’t eat or swim.
- African Penguins’ eggs get stolen by humans for food.
- Commercial fishing and oil pollution also prove a threat to them.
- African Penguins are listed as an Endangered species by the IUCN.