African Penguins

African Penguins

African Penguin - Spheniscus Demersus

	Distinguishing features
	Sub-species
	Height & Weight

	Breeding locations
	Nesting Behaviour
	Principal Diet

	Alternative names
	Further Information

Distinguishing features African Penguins have a broad black band that runs in an inverted horseshoe shape around their fronts. The chest is dotted with a few black spots in a random pattern. African Penguins are similar to Humboldt Penguins, the main differences are that the Humboldt penguins are slightly larger and heavier, have proportionately longer flippers and a narrower white band on the head. Photos of African penguins return to top of page
Sub-species There are no generally recognised sub-species of the African penguin. return to top of page
Height & Weight African Penguins stand 60 cm tall. Weight varies through the year from 2.5 to 4 kg. return to top of page
Breeding locations
	African penguins breed on the coast of South Africa and Namibia and on off shore islands. The total breeding population in 2004 was estimated as 58,636 pairs. Currently the population is declining slowly. In 2005, the population on the most Easterly islands (around Port Elizabeth) fell dramatically, probably as a result of the construction of a new ore terminal near the islands. We hope the population will soon recover once construction is complete.
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Nesting behaviour Nests are built well apart usually under bushes. Two eggs are laid and in good years both chicks are reared. Incubation takes 38 to 41 days shared equally between both parents in shifts of 1 to 3 days. Chicks are brooded and guarded for 40 days after hatching with feeding and guard duties shared between the parents. Chicks moult and go to sea when 70 to 100 days old. return to top of page
Principal diet African penguins eat mostly fish supplemented by a few percent of squid and the occasional crustaceans. return to top of page
Alternative names It is only recently that the name "African penguin" has become widely accepted. Previously African penguins were known as "Black-footed penguins", "Jackass penguins" or "Cape penguins". These older names are not recommended; African penguins do not have entirely black feet, all the Spheniscid penguins have been called "Jackass" at some time in the past, and the African penguins are not exclusively found around the Cape. return to top of page
Further Information return to top of page

Bibliography

Penguins John Sparks and Tony Soper, Facts on File Publications, Oxford, 1987.

Penguins of the World Pauline Reilly, OUP, Oxford, 1994.

The Penguins Tony D Williams, OUP, Oxford, 1995.

Penguin CAMP reports, IUCN, 1998 and 2004.