 |
|
| African penguin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Spheniscus |
| Binomial name | |
| Spheniscus demersus (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as Black-footed penguin or Jackass penguin, is found on the south-western coast of Africa. It lives in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The largest colony on Dyer Island, near Kleinbaai. Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on the mainland near Cape Town at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town and Stony Point in Betty's Bay. Mainland colonies probably only became possible in recent times due to fewer predators, although the Betty's Bay colony has been attacked by leopards. The only other mainland colony is in Namibia, but it is not known when this was established.
The African penguin may live up to 20 years. It grows up to 65 cm tall and weighs up to 3 kg. They eat fish, crabs and squids. The breeding time is 38 days.
web | 
