This small-bodied species is restricted to
the Galapagos Islands
, which straddle the equator, if only by a few degrees of latitude. The Galapagos penguin is closely related to the other temperate penguins (that live on the coasts of South America and Africa) and more distantly related to the Antarctic penguins.
Where is the Galapagos penguins habitat?
Habitat: Like other penguins, Galapagos penguins live in
coastal areas where they can nest on land and hunt in the offshore waters
. Although the Galapagos is in a tropical, equatorial climate, the Cromwell Current brings cold, nutrient rich waters to the area, supporting an abundance of food for the penguins.
What island does the Galapagos penguin live on?
In Galapagos
Where to see them: They are found mainly on
Isabela and Fernandina islands
but they can also be seen on Floreana, Santiago and Bartolome. People often swim with them around Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome. When to see them: Galapagos penguins live and breed on the Galapagos Islands all year round.
How many Galapagos penguin are left?
IUCN – The World Conservation Union designation: Endangered population estimated between 3,000-8,000 penguins. It is reported that there are
about 800 breeding pairs
left in the world.
Where do Galapagos penguins live for kids?
True to its name, the Galapagos penguin lives only on
the Galapagos islands
. They don’t migrate; they stay in the area around the islands all their lives. More than 90 percent live on the islands of Fernandina and Isabella.
Is Galapagos penguin rare?
Galapagos penguins are
the rarest and most endangered penguin species in the world
, and the only penguins found at the equator. The population experienced drastic reductions during the 1982-83 and 1997-98 El Niño events, experiencing a total decline in numbers of approximately 60%.
What’s the problem of Galapagos penguin?
Threats. Penguins are
threatened by pollution
, bycatch and climate change. Introduced species, such as dogs, carry diseases that can spread to penguins as well, and cats pose a threat as predators.
Can you own a Galapagos penguin?
Some other exotic animals that you can keep under certain circumstances include Chimpanzees and Wallabies. Bearded dragons and hedgehogs are even considered to be exotic animals, but you can keep them without any permits or special paperwork. However,
penguins are not one of these species
.
Do Galapagos sharks eat penguins?
The penguins do not have any natural predators in Galapagos
, although sharks and sea lions can be a threat. Their biggest problem is introduced species such as rats, dogs and cats, which raid the nests and eat eggs and young penguins.
Why are penguin babies so much bigger than their parents?
It was believed that
they deliberately starved their chicks in order to force them to leave the breeding colony
. This was founded on observations that the chicks of King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonica) weighed more than adult birds and lost this weight prior to fledging.
Do penguins eat meat?
Penguins are carnivores;
they eat only meat
. Their diet includes krill (tiny crustaceans), squid and fish. Some species of penguin can make a large dent in an area’s food supply.
What are they doing to save the Galapagos penguin?
Conservation efforts are slowly helping the Galapagos Penguin populations. To do this, they have provided
breeding opportunities by building 120 shaded nest sites constructed of stacked lava rocks
.
How many babies can a Galapagos penguin have?
How many babies do Galapagos Penguins have? The average number of babies a Galapagos Penguin has is
2
.
How long can a Galapagos penguin stay underwater?
Chinstrap. Chinstrap Penguins (Genus Pygoscelis type Antarcticus) which grow to a maximum of 68 to 76 cm tall (27-30 inches). They can get very tall then, and they also spend a lot of time hunting. These penguins can spend
20 minutes underwater
, without needing a single breath!
Where does Galapagos penguin eat?
Galapagos penguins form strong pair bonds and remain with the same partner for their entire lives. They are foraging predators that primarily eat
small fishes
. They forage relatively close to shore, as they are prey for the large marine predators of the Galapagos Islands, namely sharks, fur seals, and sea lions.
