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African Penguins a/k/a Jackass Penguins On The Beach (Spheniscus demersus) – By: Susan Roehl

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African Penguins a/k/a Jackass Penguins On The Beach (Spheniscus demersus)

South Africa, Cape Town, Boulders Beach

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin, is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. Like all extant penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.

Adults weigh on average 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb) and are 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall.

The pink gland above their eyes helps them to cope with changing temperatures. When the temperature gets hotter, the body of the African penguin sends more blood to these glands to be cooled by the air surrounding it. This then causes the gland to turn a darker shade of pink.

The African penguin is a pursuit diver and feeds primarily on fish and squid. Once extremely numerous, the African penguin is declining rapidly due to a combination of several threats and is classified as endangered.

The African penguin is only found on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Gqeberha, South Africa. It is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa.

Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on the mainland near Cape Town, namely Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town and Stony Point in Betty’s Bay. Mainland colonies probably only became possible in recent times due to the reduction of predator numbers, although the Betty’s Bay colony has been attacked by leopards. – Wikipedia

Posted by Susan Roehl on 2021-02-03 13:14:17

Tagged: , SouthAfricaTrip2011 , Cape Town , South Africa , Boulders Beach , African Penguin , Spheniscus demersus , South African Waters , Endangered List , Jackass Penguin , Flightless , Streamlined , Stiff Wings , Marine Habitat , Pink Patches and Gland , Pursuit Diver , Eats Fish , Squid , Breeds In Africa , Two Colonies , Also In Namibia , Sue Roehl , Pentax K-7 , 100 – 300 mm lens , Handheld , s5 , NGC , COTH , coth5

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.