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African Penguin

Spheniscus demersus

Photo by Smith Zoo
Published on Project Noah
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-34.1981, 18.4523

Field Notes

Description:

African Penguins grow to 68–70 cm (26.7–27.5 in) tall and weigh between 2 and 5 kg. 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. Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Penguin

Habitat:

Shallow nest at Boulders Beach.
The African Penguin is monogamous. It breeds in colonies, and pairs return to the same site each year. The African Penguin has an extended breeding season, with nesting usually peaking from March to May in South Africa, and November and December in Namibia. A clutch of two eggs are laid either in burrows dug in guano, or scrapes in the sand under boulders or bushes. Incubation is undertaken equally by both parents for about 40 days. At least one parent guards the chicks until about 30 days, whereafter the chick joins a creche with other chicks, and both parents head out to sea to forage each day

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