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.