Pingüino africano

1. Nombre del ave
English name: African Penguin
Scientific (Latin) name: Spheniscus demersus

2. Aspecto
The African Penguin, also known as the Jackass Penguin due to its donkey-like braying call, is a charismatic little bird with a robust body and sleek swimming shape. Their back and flippers are predominantly black, while their undersides are mainly white. A broad black band, which resembles an upside-down horseshoe, covers the chest. This penguin sports a noticeable black facial mask, with beautiful white patches above the eyes extending towards the sides. It also possesses a sharp, black beak and features pink patches of skin above the eyes and near the bill, which help with thermoregulation. Both males and females share such physical characteristics, making it challenging to distinguish between the sexes.

3. Tamaño
On average, an adult African Penguin measures approximately 60-70 cm in height (24-28 inches) and weighs between 2.2 and 3.5 kilograms (4.9–7.7 lbs). Their wings, adapted to offer streamlined swimming, span around 60-70 cm as well.

4. Hábitat y distribución
As the name suggestions, the African Penguin is native to the African continent and is concentrated around southern African waters, especially along the coastlines of Namibia and South Africa. They prefer marine habitats and breed on 24 offshore islands as well as a few select mainland sites. The birds mainly choose areas of dense vegetation or burrow into guano layers or sand for nesting.

5. Datos de interés
One of the few penguin species found outside the colder Antarctic regions, African Penguins are excellent swimmers, capable of achieving speeds of up to 20 km/h (12 mph) under water. Incredibly, they can dive for over 2 minutes and reach depths of up to 130m. African penguins display a unique ‘flipper patting’ ritual – a display of dominance and territory assertion where they flap their flippers while braying loudly.

6. Dieta
African Penguins are primarily piscivores, feeding on fish like sardines and anchovies, supplemented by squid and crustaceans.

7. Comportamiento y sonidos
Beyond their characteristic loud braying call that resembles a donkey’s heehaw, these penguins are known for their unique social behavior. They’re monogamous and pairs return to the same breeding site year after year, reinforcing their bond through mutual preening. As excellent swimmers, they often make daily foraging trips, but can venture further depending upon food availability.

8. Estado de conservación
As per the IUCN Red List, African Penguins are currently listed as Endangered as their population has been drastically declining due to numerous threats including overfishing, climate change, oil spills and terrestrial predators.

9. Vida útil
African Penguins live up to 15-20 years in the wild. In captivity, where threats are minimized, they have been known to reach 25-30 years.

10. Notas adicionales
Locally, these birds are also known as “Brilpikkewyn” in Afrikaans which means “Glasses Penguin”, owing to the white rings around their eyes that resemble spectacles. They play a critical role in their ecosystem as efficient fish predators, thus helping regulate fish populations. Despite being a protected species in South Africa, their populations still face severe threats, and extensive conservation efforts are currently in place to safeguard their future.