African Penguins

Scientific Name Spheniscus Genus ---- banded penguins
also known as the Jackass Penguin, black footed penguin
African penguins normally grow to 24 to 27 inches tall and weight around 5.25 and 9 lbs. In the wild these birds will live around 10 to 12 years. While the population of penguins in the world are around 75,000 to 80,000 their number is decreasing in size.

As penguins go the African Penguin is a medium size bird. There are some penguins that are larger and some that are smaller as well. The beak of the African Penguin is thick and black with a few white spots on the tip of the beak.
African penguins have a black stripe that starts at the base of the beak and continues over the forehead, between the eyes , up over the head and down its back, flipper and tail. Around the penguins eyes a white stripe rounds the head and goes down the side of the body as well as down the legs.

African penguins live in colonies. There ae 29 colonies species of penguin including Saint Croix Island, Dassen Island, Robben Island, Boulders Beach and Mercury Islands. African penguins adapt well in captivity because the environment in which they live is easy to recreate.

African Penguins are socialites that like to hunt in groups. While the young penguins will capture prey close to the shore adults will travel distance to gather food. African penguins do not leave the group for long periods of time and are not aggressive. They communicate by emitting a unique sound like a donkey braying aka "Jackass Penguin" Aggressive movements can see one penguin chasing another. Group baths as well as grooming takes place in the heat to help cool bodies down.

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