About the African Penguin
The African penguin, also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. It is the only penguin found in the Old World. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Adults weigh an average of 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb) and are 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall. The species has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. The body's upper parts are black and sharply delineated from the white underparts, which are spotted and marked with a black band.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Penguins (Spheniscidae) |
| Species | Spheniscus demersus |
| Species Codes | jacpen1, AFPE |
| Conservation | CR Critically Endangered |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the African Penguin belong to?
The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) belongs to the Penguins family (Spheniscidae), in the order Sphenisciformes.
What is the conservation status of the African Penguin?
The African Penguin is classified as "Critically Endangered" (CR) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the African Penguin?
The African penguin, also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. It is the only penguin found in the Old World. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a mar...
Where can I report a African Penguin sighting?
You can log sightings of African Penguin on eBird (ebird.org) using species code jacpen1, or on iNaturalist.
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