African+penguins

The African penguin, also known as the black-footed penguin, is a species of penguin confined to South African waters. The African penguin is short and flightless with stiff wings designed like flippers to help suit its marine habitat. African penguins weigh up to 3.5 kg and are about 70 cm tall. The African penguin has black feathers on its back, face, and wings, while having white feathers on its stomach and head. You can tell a African penguin apart from other penguins because of their pink eyes. African penguins have short beaks.

African penguins are in the spheniscidae family. Africans penguins live in a marine habitat on the southern coast of South Africa with colonies spanning across twenty-four islands. African penguin nesting last from March to May. They in breed in colonies, then the pair returns to the colony each year. Normally two eggs are laid at a time and eggs are equally incubated by both parents For about 40 days. It take up to 22 months for the chicks to reach adult hood. African penguins diet consist of fish, squids, and small crustaceans. Penguins will swim 20 km from shore in search of food. African penguins consume up to 540 grams of prey every day. African penguins live up to 27 years but often fall to predators such as sharks, cape fur seals, orcas, mongoose, genets, carcals, domestic cats, and eggs and newborn chicks are hunted by kelp gulls. The African penguin is considered endangered with a population of about 200,000. At this rate the penguin is estimated to go extinct in 15 years.