 Spheniscus
demersus
Spheniscus demersus, the African Penguin is also called
the Jackass Penguin because of its donkey like braying call. It is the
only species of all penguins worldwide (18 species) that can be found
on the African continent. African penguins live and breed on the coast
of South Africa and on the off shore islands.
Details
- Height: 60-68 cm
- Weight (male): 3.6 kg
- Weight (female): 3 kg
- life expectancy: usually 10-12 years (sometimes up to 25 years)
nutrition
- Adults eat about 550 g/day
- pilchards
- anchovies
- squid
- Range: up to 40km a day
swimming
- very good swimmers and can reach up to 20km/h
- can dive up to 100m (1 to 4 minutes)
- usually hunt at a depth of 30-40m
moult
- mainly in November/December
- about 3 weeks
- penguins are land bound during this period and starve
Breeding
Lifelong breeding pairs are formed!!!
- Age: this penguins reach maturity at 2-4 years
- Season: February to October
- Nest: built under bushes or in small hollows near the coast
- Eggs: usually two
- Incubation: 38-42 days
- Nesting period: about 11 weeks: both parents feed the chicken
Natural Enemies
- at sea: seals and sharks
- on land: gulls and mongoose eat the eggs
Threats
- man
- dogs and cats
- rats
- oil pollution
- egg thieves
- decline in fish stocks
Visit
You can visit the penguins at Simon's Town (follow
the R310 from Stellenbosch in direction to Muizenberg). It is even possible
to swim with the penguins at the beach in Simon's Town. With your entrance
fee you support to save the penguins! Thus, visit the Penguin Beach
as often as possible. You can also adopt a penguin (see the box on the
right-hand side).
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