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African Penguin

Birds

The African penguin is the only penguin species that breeds on the African continent, nesting along the coasts and offshore islands of South Africa and Namibia. Also known historically as the jackass penguin for its donkey-like braying call, it has a distinctive black band and spots across its white chest, a pattern unique to each individual. It forms colonies on islands and mainland sites such as Boulders Beach, digging burrows or nesting under vegetation and boulders to shield eggs and chicks from the sun. Its population has declined sharply over the past century due to historical egg collecting, guano harvesting that removed nesting material, and competition with commercial fisheries for the small pelagic fish it depends on.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Piscivore 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 3
System (Realm)
Marine 3
Relationship to People
Ecotourism and Research 4
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Derived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status.
Scientific Name
Spheniscus demersus 1
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered 1
Population Estimate
10,000 1
The cited source gives this in breeding pairs, not individuals: about 20,850 pairs in 2019 falling below 10,000 pairs by 2023 across South Africa and Namibia combined.
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
The species has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Appendix II 4
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Spheniscidae, Taxa
Source Wikidata: African Penguin

In Biome

Marine, Biomes
Source Wikidata: African Penguin
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Mozambique

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Southern Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. African Penguin (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Introduction
    The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Cape penguin or the South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters.
  • Threats and conservation section
    the African penguin is now the rarest species of penguin, classified as critically endangered, with its population declining rapidly due to a combination of several threats, such as habitat loss, overfishing and climate change.
  • Description section
    The species has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask.
  • Threats and conservation section (status sentence)
    the African penguin is now the rarest species of penguin, classified as critically endangered, with its population declining rapidly due to a combination of several threats, such as habitat loss, overfishing and climate change.
  • Threats and conservation section (population sentence)
    The total breeding population across both South Africa and Namibia fell to about 20,850 pairs in 2019 and further declined to below 10,000 pairs in 2023.
  • Infobox: status2
    CITES_A2
View the Source
2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Spheniscus demersus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES Appendix II
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive: "African penguins also benefit humans by ecotouri"
    African penguins also benefit humans by ecotourism.
View the Source
Wikidata: African Penguin
  • Child Taxon Of: Spheniscidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
  • In Biome: Marine, Introduction
View the Source
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