For how long do baby African penguins live with their partners? How much speed can they reach? What are the names of their gathering places? Find answers to these and learn more about them here in these 15 Baby African Penguin Facts.
Newborn African penguins are also called jackass penguins.
It is because of the braying sound they make.
This sound is similar to that of a donkey.
Newborn African penguins are exciting animals living around southern Africa’s coasts.
These beautiful penguins have small sizes.
They grow to a maximum height of just around 18 inches. These penguins weigh only a couple of pounds.
Despite their small size, they are exceptional swimmers and divers.
These penguins have a lot of adaptations that help them survive in the water.
Penguins from Africa are highly sociable birds that develop close relationships with their partners and kids.
This article will discuss 15 baby African penguin facts, including their peculiar mating rituals and one-of-a-kind physical traits.
15 Baby African Penguin Facts
1. When they get their first hatch, African penguin chicks are covered in a fluffy, grey down. As they age, this down is shed and replaced with their signature black and white feathers.
2. These penguins practice monogamy. They frequently remain with their partners for their whole lives, taking turns in caring for their young.
3. The distinct cry that young African penguins make allows them to locate their parents more easily in the busy colonies where they live.
4. They are one of the few penguins nesting in colonies situated totally on land, making them a rare sight.
5. The only type of penguin to call the African continent home, African penguins may be found from Namibia to South Africa. They are the only species of penguin found in Africa.
6. The egg tooth of a baby African penguin forms like a hook, which assists it in removing itself from its shell when it gets first hatches.
7. These penguins have a gland above their eyes that removes salt from their circulation, enabling them to consume seawater without becoming sick.
8. Penguins from Africa can reach up to 19 kilometres per hour while swimming because of their unique ability to flap flippers-like wings.
9. By 60–70 days, young African penguins can fledge, meaning their feathers become waterproof.
10. They can hold their breath for up to two minutes and fifty seconds as they dive for food.
11. The pink skin patch atop an African penguin’s head helps the bird maintain its ideal temperature by acting as a thermometer.
12. These penguins have an acute sense of sight above and below the water, enabling them to detect prey and potential threats.
13. Creches are the name of their gathering places. In these places, young African penguins congregate while their parents are out searching for food.
14. The degradation of their natural habitat, excessive fishing, and accidental oil spills have led to the species’ designation as endangered.
15. The average longevity of these penguins in the wild is between 10 and 15 years. However, they can live up to 20 years in captivity.
Conclusion
Many people love baby African penguins because of their cuteness and the uniqueness of their physical features, social habits, and ability to adapt to life in the water.
Hopefully, you enjoyed reading the baby African penguin facts.
Stay tuned to read more interesting and informative facts.
