African Penguin

By: Molly M.

Physical Characteristics

• The African Penguin has shiny , waterproof feathers.

• There are about 70 feathers per square inch.

• The animal is about 2 feet tall.• It is also about 6.8-8 pounds in

weight.

Habitat

• They live on islands in between Namibia and Port Elizabeth.

• They spend most of their time in the ocean.

• They are mostly found off the coast of Southern Africa.

Food

• The African Penguin is a carnivore.• They hunt in the sea to get their

food.• They eat fish such as, Sardines,

Sancord, Anchovies, Crustaceans, Crab and shrimp.

• They also eat Squid.

Babies

• The mother lays 2 eggs at a time and it takes up to 40 days of incubating.

• Both of the parents take care of the baby.• The baby has to stay close to the nest for

the first 2-12 months of life.• They eat half-digested food from their

mother.

Cool Facts

• The African Penguin nests by burrowing in bird droppings and sand.

• The eggs take 30-65 days to hatch.• The male Penguins are larger and

they have longer bills.

Protection/Predators

• This animal protects itself by honking like a donkey.

• The water predators are, Sharks, Capefur, Seals and Orcas.

• The land based ones are , Kelpgull, mongoose, Genets and domestic cats.

Lifespan

• The African Penguin’s lifespan is about 10-27 years in the wild.