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Animals & Exhibits Species of the Month African Penguin
Animals & Exhibits Species of the Month African Penguin
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Size:African penguins range from 18 to 25 inches tall and weigh up to 11 pounds Range/Distribution:The only penguin to breed in Africa, the African penguin ranges from Namibia to South Africa. Young penguins have been known to migrate north and west along the coastline and are found between Southern Angola, Namibia, and sometimes found off Gabon, Congo, and Mozambique, but generally reside in South Africa. Appearance:The African penguin has a robust, torpedo-shaped body with black feathers on their back, flippers, and head while white feathers cover their front with the exception of horseshoe-shaped black stripe on the chest. Following the penguin’s first few molts a white stripe will develop around its cheek and throat. These birds have a bare patch above their eyes to assist with regulating their body temperature. Habitat:When not hunting for food in the water, African penguins are found along rocky shores or brushy coastal areas. Prey:African penguins feed on 25 species of fish, such as sardine and anchovy but also prey on squid and krill. A penguin may eat up to one pound of food or up to 14% of their weight. Predators:African penguins face predation by gulls, feral cats and mongoose while nesting on land, while sharks and fur seals hunt African penguins in the water. Mean Life Expectancy:Mean life expectancy of male African penguins is 17.3 years and 15.1 years for female African penguins. Mating Behaviors:There are no set breeding seasons for African penguins, however, most penguin pairs are monogamous and will remain together over several breeding years. The male will prepare a nest by digging a shallow burrow in sand or in brush using guano (penguin waste) and any materials nearby to complete the nest for the female to lay two eggs. Both the male and female share the nesting and chick duties, keeping the young safe from predators and warm temperatures. The chicks will hatch between 38 and 42 days and will leave the nest when they are between 60 to 130 days of age. FAQQ: Can the penguins be distinguished from one another by personality? A: “Yes, definitely. Although all of the penguins are fairly curious, some are more courageous will explore new surroundings while others may stay behind the rocks. When we take an animal out for a contact program; some may fidget, some may be timid, or hop right on a participants lap.”
Q: Can you train a penguin? A: Yes, we train our birds for veterinary behaviors, like hopping onto a platform scale to be weighed, opening their mouth for feeding, standing still for an auscultation (listening to a heartbeat with a stethoscope), making them comfortable around people and noises, and walking into a crate when they need to be moved.”
Q: Do any of the animals have weird quirks? Do they have any amazing or peculiar talents? A: “Each bird is unique. Some of the penguins are excellent painters and have even travelled to New York to paint on morning television shows. Two of the birds will stand on the trainer’s foot during feeding time, they will wait patiently for all of the fish to be eaten and will “get hungry” when the squid from the bottom of the bucket is fed (squid is a treat for the birds and they are supposed to each their fish before they get their squid). Some birds will climb to the highest rocks in the exhibit and try to peek over the walls to see what is happening on the other side. After a timed, one of the trainers will pick them up for them to see over the side.”
Q: Can you describe the typical day of a trainer? A: “It takes many people to keep the penguins in the style they have grown accustomed to living in. An assistant trainer will arrive to work between 7-9am and start their day cleaning the exhibit; they vacuum the pool, clean the beach and the nesting rooms and prepare the food for the day. The enrichment team will visit the exhibit for fifteen minutes to entertain the birds with sound makers, toys, visually aesthetic items, and finger painting from the front or on the glass windows below. Throughout the day, trainers will monitor the exhibit and the birds through 2 scheduled feedings, regular exhibit maintenance, training sessions and contact programs. It is important to check on the birds to monitor their health and behavior.
Q: What are the African penguins’ closest relatives? How are they different? A: “Magellanic and Humboldt penguins are the closest relatives to the African penguin, both of these species are found in South America. All three are medium-sizes, tropical penguins with similar feather patterns.”
Q: What do you call a group of penguins? Males? Females? Young penguins? A: “A group of penguins is called a colony. The young are called fledglings, little blues, or chicks. There are no terms given to males or females”
Q: Are African penguins social birds and if so, what are their social relationships like? A: “African penguins are excellent parents and will pair bond with one mate for a long period time. Besides this, there is also a social structure among the colony. Some are more dominant and will claim the better nesting sites or territories. The adults tend to be more tolerant of juvenile birds until they develop their adult plumage.”
Q: Are the penguins given any special vitamins with their food? A: “Yes, every penguin in our colony receives an avian multivitamin with their daily meals of herring, capelin, and squid. This multivitamin is given to most birds and helps to substitute any nutrients that may have leached out of the fish during the defrosting.”
Q: What is the average lifespan of penguins in aquariums? Where did the Aquarium’s population of penguins come from? A: “Penguins have been seen to reach 30 or even 40 years of age in an aquarium, in the wild, penguins will have increased threats (predators, illness, oil spills) so their lifespan could be significantly less. All of the Aquarium’s penguins were hatched either here or at another aquarium or zoo. Our exhibit opened in 1989 and many of the penguins came from the Baltimore Zoo. As part of the Species Survival Plan, our colony size has grown not only through new chicks being hatched but also exchanges of birds with other aquariums and zoos; this ensures a healthy genetic diversity.”
A: “There isn’t any specific way to tell the exact age of a penguin; however, it is possible to determine if they are a juvenile or adult. Juveniles have black feathers and won’t develop the “C” pattern on their breast until after they molt a few times while adults have their full African penguin patterning.”
Q: Mystic Aquarium will administer a blood test at 6 months of age to determine whether a chick is male or female. Why is this done at 6 months? A: “It’s not always at 6 months, but they are usually between 4 to 6 months old when they receive their first full physical exam. We want to be able to establish more of a relationship with the penguins so they have our trust before we handle them. Since, there is no accurate way to determine sex by looking at an African penguin; a blood test is the most effective and least invasive method.”
Q: How do penguins communicate with each other? A: “Penguins can identify individuals through sight and sound. Each bird has their own unique vocalization, and with some birds, I have just begun to be able to distinguish them. A lot can be told by an animal’s body language. When a penguin is being aggressive, it will puff out its chest; hold its wings back, its beak forward, and its head side to side. When one is greeting a mate, its pupils dilate and it has a bit of a swagger when it walks.”
Videos
PodcastSpecies of the Month Podcast: What if penguins lived among us?This month you can listen to two penguin podcasts! 1. Join Mystic Aquarium's Assistant Supervisor of Marine Mammals and Birds, Sarah Dunn, as she explains the important penguin conservation work that is being accomplished in South Africa and how you can become involved! 2. Join MaryEllen as she discusses Mystic Aquarium's upcoming 5th annual Penguin Walk/Run with event coordinator and aquarium Researcher Dr. Lisa Mazzaro. 3. Join Mystic Aquarium's Kelly Matis and MaryEllen Mateleska for a fun five minutes devoted to October's featured species: the African penguin! In this podcast they tackle the age-old question, "What if penguins lived among us?" Kelly and MaryEllen discuss the pressures facing African penguins in the wild as well as some of the efforts to help save these endangered birds. MaryEllen wants to hear from you! Send questions, comments and suggestions for future podcast topics to educationinfo@mysticaquarium.org. FAST FACTSScientific Name: Spheniscus demersus Download Plummeting Population Download Penguin Scramble Activity Size: African penguins range from 18 to 25 inches tall and weigh up to 11 pounds
Range/Distribution: The only penguin to breed in Africa, the African penguin ranges from Namibia to South Africa. Young penguins have been known to migrate north and west along the coastline and are found between Southern Angola, Namibia, and sometimes found off Gabon, Congo, and Mozambique, but generally reside in South Africa. Appearance: The African penguin has a robust, torpedo-shaped body with black feathers on their back, flippers, and head while white feathers cover their front with the exception of horseshoe-shaped black stripe on the chest. Following the penguin’s first few molts a white stripe will develop around its cheek and throat. These birds have a bare patch above their eyes to assist with regulating their body temperature. Habitat: When not hunting for food in the water, African penguins are found along rocky shores or brushy coastal areas. Prey: African penguins feed on 25 species of fish, such as sardine and anchovy but also prey on squid and krill. A penguin may eat up to one pound of food or up to 14% of their weight. Predators: African penguins face predation by gulls, feral cats and mongoose while nesting on land, while sharks and fur seals hunt African penguins in the water. Life Span: The African penguin may live up to late 30 years in an aquarium or zoo but averages of 15-20 years are seen in the wild populations. Mating Behaviors: There are no set breeding seasons for African penguins, however, most penguin pairs are monogamous and will remain together over several breeding years. The male will prepare a nest by digging a shallow burrow in sand or in brush using guano (penguin waste) and any materials nearby to complete the nest for the female to lay two eggs. Both the male and female share the nesting and chick duties, keeping the young safe from predators and warm temperatures. The chicks will hatch between 38 and 42 days and will leave the nest when they are between 60 to 130 days of age. |
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| The mission of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., which includes Mystic Aquarium, Ocean Exploration Center and JASON Learning, is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration. |