# African Penguin (*Spheniscus demersus*) The African Penguin is a small, charming bird that waddles on land and swims in the ocean. They have black and white feathers that help them stay safe in the water. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Jackass Penguin ![African Penguin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ping%C3%BCino_de_El_Cabo_%28Spheniscus_demersus%29%252C_Playa_de_Boulders%252C_Simon's_Town%252C_Sud%C3%A1frica%252C_2018-07-23%252C_DD_11.jpg&width=800) Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ping%C3%BCino_de_El_Cabo_%28Spheniscus_demersus%29%252C_Playa_de_Boulders%252C_Simon's_Town%252C_Sud%C3%A1frica%252C_2018-07-23%252C_DD_11.jpg) ## Appearance The African Penguin is a medium-sized bird with a distinct black band across its white chest and a black back. It has unique pink patches above its eyes that help keep it cool, and a pointed beak. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Sphenisciformes - **Family:** Spheniscidae - **Genus:** Spheniscus ## Interesting facts - African Penguins can hold their breath for up to 2.5 minutes while diving for food! - Every African Penguin has a unique pattern of spots on its chest, like a human fingerprint! - Their waterproof feathers help them stay warm and dry in the chilly ocean water! - They build nests in burrows, sometimes using their own droppings to strengthen the walls! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Pursuit Hunter:** African Penguin can dart through the ocean at speed to catch fish because of its streamlined body and powerful flippers. - **Saltwater Filter:** African Penguin has special glands above its eyes that help it drink saltwater by filtering out the salt. - **Built-in Cooler:** African Penguin has pink patches above its eyes that help cool its blood when it gets too hot. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-40 cm - **Weight:** 2.2-3.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 38-40 days ## Diet & Feeding These marine birds primarily eat small fish and squid, which they expertly catch while swimming underwater. - **Primary Foods:** sardines, anchovies, horse mackerel, squid, crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Adult penguins are hunted by large sharks. - **Eaten by:** Cape Fur Seal (*Arctocephalus pusillus*) — Seals prey on penguins in coastal waters. - **Eats:** [Sardine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sardine) (*Sardinops sagax*) — A primary food source for adult penguins. - **Eats:** Kelp Gull (*Larus dominicanus*) — Gulls often steal eggs and chicks from nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch penguins from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African Penguin? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African Penguin? 60-70 cm ### What is African Penguin's wingspan? 30-40 cm ### How much does African Penguin weigh? 2.2-3.5 kg ### How long does African Penguin live? 10-15 years ### How fast can African Penguin move? 20 km/h ### What does African Penguin eat? These marine birds primarily eat small fish and squid, which they expertly catch while swimming underwater. ### Where is African Penguin usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bronx Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bronx-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Cameron Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cameron-park-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Memphis Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/memphis-zoo) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [Minnesota Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-zoo) — Minnesota, US · Zoo - [The Maryland Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-maryland-zoo) — Maryland, US · Zoo - [Tulsa Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tulsa-zoo) — Oklahoma, US · Zoo [View all places to see African Penguin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/african-penguin) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [African Penguin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-penguin)