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African penguin
Spheniscus demersus
-34.2014, 18.4535
Field Notes
Description:
Also known as the black-footed or jackass penguin, this bird was declared endangered by IUCN in 2010. They have a black stripe and black spots on the chest, the pattern of spots being unique for every penguin, like human fingerprints. They have pink glands above their eyes, which are used for thermoregulation. The hotter the penguin gets, the more blood is sent to these glands so it may be cooled by the surrounding air, thus making the glands pinker. Although the parent penguins are protective of their hatchlings, they will not sacrifice their appetite for their children. If even in a situation where food is scarce, adult parents will let their children starve before they let themselves starve.
Habitat:
Beach frequented by tourists; touching the penguins is prohibited. You can view them from a boardwalk
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