Galapagos Penguins
The Smallest Known Penguin
:::Indentification:::
Length: 49 cm
Appearance: Blackish upper parts with a white belly that is bordered with a black crescent across the breast and flanks. They have a very stout bill.
Galapagos Penguins are the smallest type and northernmost of the Spheniscus Penguins.
Males are typically larger than the females and they tend to have more pink lining their beak and eyes. They also have bolder markings. The pectoral bands, and facial markings of males are more distinct than those of the females.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Spheniscus
Scientific Name: Spheniscus Mendiculus.
:::Where they particularly live:::
Galapagos penguins tend to live in the Galapagos islands, as what their name suggests. They tend to build their nests in burrows or in crevices in lava.
While ninety percent of the Galapagos Penguins live among the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela, they also occur on Santiago, Bartolome, northern Santa Cruz, and Floreana. The northern tip of Isabela crosses the equator, meaning that Galápagos Penguins occasionally visit the northern hemisphere, the only penguins to do so.
Baby Galapagos Penguin
Adult Galapagos Penguin
Galapagos Penguin Swinning
:::Threats:::
Since the Galapagos Penguin is naturally small, they have many predators. On land, they may face the treat of crabs, owls, snakes, and hawks. While in the water, that might face the threat of sharks, fur seals, and sea lions.
They face many hazards due to humans, as well as the hazards of unreliable food resources and volcanic activity. Illegal fishermen interrupt the penguins’ nesting trees, and they are often caught in fishing nets by mistake.
The threats made by humans can be stopped if the fishermen would stop fishing illegally. It could also help to have a normal patrol of the island to keep a constant number known for sure, and to stop unnecessary threats.