African Penguin Trivia

Guano is now forbidden in fertilizer, which has reduced the economic importance of black-footed penguins for humans.

Since the early 1900s, the African penguin population has been in decline.

Incubation is shared amongst African penguins between both parents.

Simple characteristics allow the four different species of the genus Spheniscus.

Galapagos penguins have a much thinner white horseshoe-shaped marking at the back of the head than African penguins.

In the penguin’s second year, the plumage begins to turn brown and in the third year, it shows varying amounts of adult facial pattern.

The distance that African penguins have to travel to find food varies regionally, temporally, and spatially. On the west coast of Africa, a typical foraging trip could range from 30 to 70 kilometers for a single trip. On the south coast, foraging birds can cover an average of 110 kilometers per trip.

Due to its geographical location along the Cape Town coast of southern Africa, the African penguin is also known the Cape penguin or South African penguin. African penguins are also called jackass penguins and black-footed penguins.

Due to its geographical location along the Cape Town coast of southern Africa, the African penguin is also known the Cape penguin or South African penguin. African penguins are also called jackass penguins and black-footed penguins.

Due to its geographical location along the Cape Town coast of southern Africa, the African penguin is also known the Cape penguin or South African penguin. African penguins are also called jackass penguins and black-footed penguins.

Natural threats of the African penguin include competition with Afro-Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). The seals compete with penguins for food, displace them from breeding sites and impose significant mortality at some colonies.

The African penguin is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

All African penguins have a patch of bare skin at the base of their bellies, called a “brood patch,” that helps the parent provide direct heat to their eggs for incubation.

The African penguin’s coloring is a form of protective coloration known as countershading. These achromatic markings serve as camouflage to aquatic predators as the white of the belly blends in with the light coming in from the surface of the water when viewed by aquatic predators from below and the dark of the back obscures the penguin into the darkness of the ocean depths when viewed by aerial predators from above.

African penguins are social creatures that live in large groups on rocky coastlines.

African penguins are the most common penguin found in zoos. Black-footed penguins can be found on display at zoos such as the San Diego Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Toronto Zoo, and Dallas Zoo.

Penguin skins have also been used and sold as gloves.

The population in Namibia declined from 12,162 pairs in 1978 to an estimated 5,800 pairs in 2015. The South African population declined from c. 70,000 pairs in 1978 and 1979 to 19,300 pairs in 2015. In that year, the overall number of pairs was about 25,000 pairs, or 50,000 mature individuals. This roughly equates to about 80,000 individuals in adult plumage based on the conversion factor of 3.2 for pairs to individuals. Decreases in both countries amount to over 50% in three generations.

African penguins are carnivorous and feed on aquatic prey.

The African penguin is not a migrant.

African penguins come ashore on islands or at non-contiguous areas of the mainland coast to breed, moult, and rest.

African penguins come ashore on islands or at non-contiguous areas of the mainland coast to breed, moult, and rest.

African penguins come ashore on islands or at non-contiguous areas of the mainland coast to breed, moult, and rest.

African penguins inhabit temperate shrublands, marine intertidal, and marine neritic habitats.

African penguins inhabit temperate shrublands, marine intertidal, and marine neritic habitats.

African penguins inhabit temperate shrublands, marine intertidal, and marine neritic habitats.

Most birds that survive later return to their natal colony to moult and breed, although the growth of some colonies has been attributed to the immigration of first-time breeders tracking food availability.

African penguins gather in breeding areas called rookeries.

African penguin hatchlings are left alone in groups, a characteristic common to bird species that breed in large colonies, while their parents forage for food.

The African penguin is endemic to the African continent.

The African penguin’s scientific name is Spheniscus demersus.

During breeding, male and female African penguins are most distinguishable from one another due to their patterns of colors. Males also have deeper, more robust bills.

During breeding, male and female African penguins are most distinguishable from one another due to their patterns of colors. Males also have deeper, more robust bills.

Nesting on open ground causes African penguins to be more vulnerable to heat stress resulting in the abandonment of nests, flooding of nests by rain, and increased predation.

Nesting on open ground causes African penguins to be more vulnerable to heat stress resulting in the abandonment of nests, flooding of nests by rain, and increased predation.

Nesting on open ground causes African penguins to be more vulnerable to heat stress resulting in the abandonment of nests, flooding of nests by rain, and increased predation.

Fighting between African penguins occurs occasionally and involves the beating of wings and biting. Often, a penguin can be observed chasing throughout the colony while clutching an opposing penguin’s back with his beak while beating the bird with his wings.

Fighting between African penguins occurs occasionally and involves the beating of wings and biting. Often, a penguin can be observed chasing throughout the colony while clutching an opposing penguin’s back with his beak while beating the bird with his wings.

Most birds, except grebes and loons, are classified as digitigrade animals, meaning they walk on their toes, rather than the entire foot.

After the eggs hatch, the parenting pair feeds their young for about one month by regurgitating food into the hatchling’s mouth.

African penguins are diurnal and spend much of the day feeding in the water.

The yell, or contact call, is used to defend a territory from another colony member. The bray, or display call, is used to attract mates and is used between partners in a colony. Penguins also perform displays that are used to establish nesting areas, help with partner/hatchling recognition and defense against intruders. The haw is used by partners when one is on land and the other is in the water.

The yell, or contact call, is used to defend a territory from another colony member. The bray, or display call, is used to attract mates and is used between partners in a colony. Penguins also perform displays that are used to establish nesting areas, help with partner/hatchling recognition and defense against intruders. The haw is used by partners when one is on land and the other is in the water.

The yell, or contact call, is used to defend a territory from another colony member. The bray, or display call, is used to attract mates and is used between partners in a colony. Penguins also perform displays that are used to establish nesting areas, help with partner/hatchling recognition and defense against intruders. The haw is used by partners when one is on land and the other is in the water.

The African penguin is the only penguin species found in Africa.

At one point, guano was excavated from rookeries by humans, processed, and made into fertilizer, which was then sold around the world.

African penguin population declines have been attributed to food shortages, resulting from shifts in the distributions of prey species, competition with commercial purse-seine fisheries and environmental fluctuations. Guano collection has also historically been a major cause of disturbance at many penguin colonies and today, the removal of guano has deprived penguins of nest-burrowing sites.

African penguin population declines have been attributed to food shortages, resulting from shifts in the distributions of prey species, competition with commercial purse-seine fisheries and environmental fluctuations. Guano collection has also historically been a major cause of disturbance at many penguin colonies and today, the removal of guano has deprived penguins of nest-burrowing sites.

African penguin population declines have been attributed to food shortages, resulting from shifts in the distributions of prey species, competition with commercial purse-seine fisheries and environmental fluctuations. Guano collection has also historically been a major cause of disturbance at many penguin colonies and today, the removal of guano has deprived penguins of nest-burrowing sites.

African penguins are a species that humans can approach closely and watch as they interact with their environment.

The primary viewing site of African penguins is the colony at False Bay in Simons Town, South Africa. This colony has over 2,000 penguins.

Magellanic penguins show a double black breast-band, rather than the single black breast-band of the African penguin.

The change from juvenile plumage to adult plumage takes around 3 years.

When on the hunt for prey, African penguins can reach a top speed of close to 20 kilometers per hour.

African penguins are called jackass penguins because they emit a loud, braying, donkey-like call to communicate with each other.

Natural threats of the African penguin include competition with Afro-Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). The seals compete with penguins for food, displace them from breeding sites and impose significant mortality at some colonies. African penguins also face predation of eggs and chicks by avian predators such as kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and African sacred ibises (Threskiornis aethiopicus), while natural terrestrial predators, such as yellow mongooses (Cynictis penicillata), cape genets (Genetta tigrina), caracals (Caracal caracal), and leopards (Panthera pardus) are also present at mainland colonies. In the water, African penguins need to fear sharks looking to take birds at sea.

Natural threats of the African penguin include competition with Afro-Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). The seals compete with penguins for food, displace them from breeding sites and impose significant mortality at some colonies. African penguins also face predation of eggs and chicks by avian predators such as kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and African sacred ibises (Threskiornis aethiopicus), while natural terrestrial predators, such as yellow mongooses (Cynictis penicillata), cape genets (Genetta tigrina), caracals (Caracal caracal), and leopards (Panthera pardus) are also present at mainland colonies. In the water, African penguins need to fear sharks looking to take birds at sea.

Natural threats of the African penguin include competition with Afro-Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). The seals compete with penguins for food, displace them from breeding sites and impose significant mortality at some colonies. African penguins also face predation of eggs and chicks by avian predators such as kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and African sacred ibises (Threskiornis aethiopicus), while natural terrestrial predators, such as yellow mongooses (Cynictis penicillata), cape genets (Genetta tigrina), caracals (Caracal caracal), and leopards (Panthera pardus) are also present at mainland colonies. In the water, African penguins need to fear sharks looking to take birds at sea.

Natural threats of the African penguin include competition with Afro-Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). The seals compete with penguins for food, displace them from breeding sites and impose significant mortality at some colonies. African penguins also face predation of eggs and chicks by avian predators such as kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and African sacred ibises (Threskiornis aethiopicus), while natural terrestrial predators, such as yellow mongooses (Cynictis penicillata), cape genets (Genetta tigrina), caracals (Caracal caracal), and leopards (Panthera pardus) are also present at mainland colonies. In the water, African penguins need to fear sharks looking to take birds at sea.

Adult African penguins stand at 43-71 centimeters (17-28 inches).

Adult African penguins weigh an average of 3.1 kilograms (6.83 pounds).

African penguins are commonly found in zoos due to their size and temperature requirements, which are easy to maintain.

African penguins are commonly found in zoos due to their size and temperature requirements, which are easy to maintain.

The average lifespan of the African penguin is 10 to 27 years in the wild, whereas an African penguin living in captivity generally has a longer lifespan.

There are no real negative economic effects of the African penguin on humans as they do not eat enough fish to be detrimental to the local fishing industry.

Up to 18 species of crustaceans are prey to the African penguin. Adult African penguins feed primarily on small schooling pelagic fish of 50-120 millimeter length, such as Southern African anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus), sardines (Sardinops sagax), pelagic goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus), Cape horse mackerel (Trachurus capensis), and Whitehead’s round herring (Etrumeus whiteheadi), supplemented by squid and crustaceans. In some localities, cephalopods represent an important food source

Up to 18 species of crustaceans are prey to the African penguin. Adult African penguins feed primarily on small schooling pelagic fish of 50-120 millimeter length, such as Southern African anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus), sardines (Sardinops sagax), pelagic goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus), Cape horse mackerel (Trachurus capensis), and Whitehead’s round herring (Etrumeus whiteheadi), supplemented by squid and crustaceans. In some localities, cephalopods represent an important food source

Up to 18 species of crustaceans are prey to the African penguin. Adult African penguins feed primarily on small schooling pelagic fish of 50-120 millimeter length, such as Southern African anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus), sardines (Sardinops sagax), pelagic goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus), Cape horse mackerel (Trachurus capensis), and Whitehead’s round herring (Etrumeus whiteheadi), supplemented by squid and crustaceans. In some localities, cephalopods represent an important food source

They can remain out at sea for up to four months at a time.

Head-swinging motions usually refer to ownership of nest site, attracting females, and can be used as a warning for other males. The next stage is used to ensure a mutual bond is formed; which involves a harsh vocal call released while extending the neck and head upward. The final stage includes bowing, where one or both penguins duck the head while the bill points at the nest or at the other bird’s feet.

Head-swinging motions usually refer to ownership of nest site, attracting females, and can be used as a warning for other males. The next stage is used to ensure a mutual bond is formed; which involves a harsh vocal call released while extending the neck and head upward. The final stage includes bowing, where one or both penguins duck the head while the bill points at the nest or at the other bird’s feet.

Head-swinging motions usually refer to ownership of nest site, attracting females, and can be used as a warning for other males. The next stage is used to ensure a mutual bond is formed; which involves a harsh vocal call released while extending the neck and head upward. The final stage includes bowing, where one or both penguins duck the head while the bill points at the nest or at the other bird’s feet.

Incubation lasts for about 40 days.

African penguins inhabit marine neritic, oceanic, intertidal, and coastal/supratidal habitats.

African penguins inhabit marine neritic, oceanic, intertidal, and coastal/supratidal habitats.

African penguins inhabit marine neritic, oceanic, intertidal, and coastal/supratidal habitats.

African penguins inhabit marine neritic, oceanic, intertidal, and coastal/supratidal habitats.

Once an African penguin develops its juvenile plumage at about 2-4 months of age, it will leave the colony.

They can sometimes be found close to the summit of islands and may move over a kilometer inland in search of breeding sites.

African penguin hatchlings groups are called crèches.

The African penguins at False Bay in Simons Town, South Africa has over 2000 penguins.

This species is endemic to southern Africa where it breeds in 28 localities in Namibia and South Africa.

African penguins have a distinguishable bit of bare, white skin that resides over the eyes in a horseshoe-shape. These sweat glands above the eyes cool the birds’ blood, and as the temperature rises, increased blood flow causes the glands to become bright pinkish-red.

African penguins live in colonies.

The average age at first breeding is thought to be 4-6 years.

African penguin breeding takes place throughout the year with peak months varying locally. In the northwest part of the African penguin’s range, in Namibia, peak laying occurs during the months of November to January. In the southern section of the penguin’s range, in South Africa, nesting happens within March and May. In the Southwest, it occurs between May and July, and in the East, the penguins breed between April and June.

African penguins initially have dark slate gray-blue feathers that darken with age.

Four types of blood parasites, Plasmodium relictum, Plasmodium elongatum, Plasmodium cathemerium, and Leucocytozoon tawaki have been recorded in African penguins.

African penguins inhabit epipelagic (0-200m) marine oceanic habitats.

African penguins cannot easily preen their own heads and necks, and as such, participate in allopreening, or the preening of each other. This practical behavior allows for cleaning and rearranging of feathers and aids in the removal of parasites, such as ticks.

African penguins are monogamous as pairs return to the same breeding sites year after year.

Humboldt penguins have much more pink bare skin that resides over the eyes and around the beak than African penguins.

African penguins are terrestrial and aquatic.

African penguins are terrestrial and aquatic.