One of the 15 penguins on WAnimals
Birds · Sphenisciformes · Spheniscidae
Galapagos Penguin
Spheniscus mendiculus
It faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. See full glossary
The Galápagos penguin is a bird of the family Spheniscidae endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is the only penguin species that lives in the wild north of the equator. It is able to survive thanks to the cold temperatures produced by the Humboldt current and the cold deep water brought up by the Cromwell current.
Weight
1.9 kg on average
Size
48 cm – 53 cm
Lifespan
15 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Colony
Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.
Sighting difficulty
Hard
Estimated population
About 1,200 individuals, the smallest population of any penguin, and declining
Fun facts
- GeneralThe only penguin that breeds on the equator; it holds its flippers out to shade its feet.
- distribuciónIt is the only penguin that lives naturally north of the equator, thanks to the cold currents that wash the archipelago.
- It is the only penguin that lives naturally at the equator and the only one that breeds north of that line; it survives there thanks to the cold water of the Humboldt and Cromwell currents.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Volcanic coasts washed by the Cromwell Current
- Sexual maturity
- 3-8 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 38-42 days of incubation, shared by both parents
- Litter / clutch size
- Up to 2 eggs, laid in lava crevices
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheniscus_mendiculus
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round on Isabela and Fernandina; breeding is concentrated in the cold-water months, when the upwelling brings more fish
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Galapagos Penguin — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Galapagos Fur Seal
Arctocephalus galapagoensis
Galapagos Sea Lion
Zalophus wollebaeki
EndangeredWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
EndangeredGreen Turtle
Chelonia mydas
VulnerableMarine Iguana
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
EndangeredGiant Manta
Mobula birostris
How to help
The galapagos penguin is classified as endangered. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 3 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about galapagos penguin.
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