A small bird belonging to the genus of penguins, whose representatives live outside Antarctica.
Taxonomy
Russian name - South African penguin, or spectacled penguin, or donkey penguin
Latin name – Spheniscus demersus
English name– Jackass penguin
Class – Birds (Aves)
Order – Penguin-like (Sphenisciformes)
Family – Penguins (Sphenisidae)
Genus – Spectacled penguins (Spheniscus)
In addition to the South African penguin, taxonomists include the Humboldt penguin in the genus Spectacled penguin. (Spheniscus humboldti), Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus) and the Galapagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus).
In the literature, the African penguin is usually called by its genus - spectacled.
Conservation status
The number of African penguins declined sharply at the beginning of the twentieth century due to human development of nesting habitats, oil pollution of coastal waters and a number of other reasons also related to human activities. So, if by the beginning of the 19th century the number of this species was estimated at 4 million individuals, then by the end of the 20th century only 10% remained. Thus, the number of African penguins has fallen tens of times and now, according to various estimates, ranges from 50,000 to 170,000 individuals. Currently, this penguin is listed in the Red Book of South Africa and the International Red Book in the group of endangered species - IUCN (EN).
Species and man
All the reasons that caused such a sharp decline in the number of African penguins are related to human activities. This includes unlimited collection of eggs (banned only in 1969), an oil spill off the coast of South Africa, overfishing of small fish that penguins feed on, and human development of the nesting biotopes of these birds. Currently, the spectacled penguin is under strict protection; National parks or simply protected areas have been created in its nesting areas. Visits by tourists to these places, if allowed, are strict rules. Visitors walk on specially laid wooden walkways raised above the ground; approaching, touching and feeding the birds is strictly prohibited. In this mode, penguins react completely calmly to the presence of people. In addition, special nesting houses are built for penguins nesting on the sandy shore. Now there is hope that the spectacled penguin can be saved from complete extinction.
Currently, the spectacled penguin is under strict protection; National parks or simply protected areas have been created in its nesting areas. Tourists visiting these places, if allowed, does so under strict rules. Visitors walk on specially laid wooden walkways raised above the ground; approaching, touching and feeding the birds is strictly prohibited. In this mode, penguins react completely calmly to the presence of people. In addition, special nesting houses are built for penguins nesting on the sandy shore. Now there is hope that the spectacled penguin can be saved from complete extinction.
Distribution and habitats
The spectacled penguin nests in the southern and south- west coast Africa, washed by the cold Bengal Current. For nesting colonies it chooses rocky areas of the coast, but can also nest on sandy shores. In national parks, people set up special shelter houses for them.
Appearance and coloring
The coloring of the spectacled penguin is typical of all penguins - black back, white chest and belly. It got its name from the peculiar pattern on its head. There is a narrow black stripe in the shape of a horseshoe on the chest down to the paws. The beak and legs are black. The height of the spectacled penguin reaches 65-70 cm, body weight up to 4 kg. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Lifestyle and social behavior
Spectacled penguins spend most of the year at sea, but at the beginning of the breeding season they swim to the islands or parts of the coast of South Africa. However, during migrations they do not swim far from the shore, so they are classified as sedentary species. Like all penguins, they feel light and free in the water. They can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h, dive to depths of up to 100 m, and hold their breath for 2-3 minutes. During the hunt they can swim 70-120 km. Special organs on the head (pink “eyebrows” above the eyes) help these penguins maintain the required body temperature. The higher the bird's body temperature, the more blood is directed to these organs. And thanks to their thin skin, the blood in them is quickly cooled by the surrounding air. During molting, penguins do not dive into water and lose the opportunity to feed. They spend about 20 days on land without feeding. Spectacled penguins have many enemies, both in the water and on the shore. The main enemy is, of course, humans, and in both penguin habitats (bird catching, egg collection, pollution environment etc.). In the water, penguins are hunted by sharks and, less commonly, fur seals. With the latter, spectacled penguins also compete on land for rookery sites and nesting colonies, and in water for food. Large seagulls and, in some places, feral cats pose a danger to chicks and eggs on land.
Nutrition and feeding behavior
Spectacled penguins feed on small schooling fish (fry of herring, anchovies, sardines); They eat about 500 g of fish per day. Human overfishing off the coast of Africa is one of the reasons for the decline in the number of this penguin species.
Reproduction and parental behavior
The breeding season of the spectacled penguin is not clearly defined and varies depending on the location. Thus, in the north-west of the range, the peak of incubation occurs in November-January, in the south-west - in May-July, in the east - in April-June.
Spectacled penguins are monogamous, with 80-90% of pairs remaining together for the next breeding season, with each pair returning to the same colony and nest. There are cases where permanent couples have been preserved for 10 years.
Spectacled penguins nest in colonies. The nest is made in a hole or crevice in the rock and is lined with pebbles, twigs and pieces of guano, which the penguins collect near the nest. By the way, guano promotes preservation in the nest required temperature. There are 2 eggs in a clutch, 3-4 times larger than chicken eggs. Both parents incubate alternately for 40 days. The change of partners on the nest occurs on average after 2.5 days.
The hatched chicks are first covered with brownish-gray down, and later with a bluish tint. Feeding the chicks lasts about 80 days. For the first 15 days after hatching, one of the parents is constantly near the chicks, warming them until thermoregulation is established, and protecting them from predators. Protection of the chicks by one of the parents lasts about a month, after which both parents go to feed, and the young remain in the collective " kindergarten" At the age of 60-130 days, they leave the colony and go to sea, where they spend 12-22 months, after which they return to their native colony and molt into adult plumage. Typically, no more than 40% of spectacled penguin chicks survive.
Females become sexually mature at the age of 4-5 years.
Lifespan
The lifespan of spectacled penguins in the wild is 10-12 years.
Life at the Moscow Zoo
At our zoo, spectacled penguins live peacefully in the same enclosure with Humboldt penguins in the Bird House on the Old Territory. Now a family lives here - two parents and 2 chicks born in the zoo. In terms of lifestyle, habits, living conditions and attitude towards people, these penguins are no different from Humboldt penguins.
Small fish (fish carcass size 15-20 cm) in the amount of 1.5 kg, as well as shrimp and squid, about 2 kg in total, are fed daily.
The spectacled penguin is a bird belonging to the penguin family. This species is also known by names such as donkey, African or black-footed.
The bird's habitat is the southwestern coast of the African continent, washed by the cold waters of the Bengal Current and the adjacent islands. Also, many representatives of this species are distributed throughout the world, mainly inhabitants of zoos.
Note that the black-footed penguin is the only species that lives in Africa, which is unusual for many, because most ordinary people are sure that the main habitat of these birds is the coastal waters of the Arctic.
Birds nest annually with the onset of winter, which is explained by the fact that during this period on the mainland the temperature is more comfortable for birds, conducive to reproduction. But the birds are still forced to protect their future offspring from overheating by laying eggs in pre-prepared burrows dug in guano deposits directly on the coast.
Appearance
Spectacled penguins reach 70 cm in length, while their weight does not exceed 4.5 kg. The characteristic coloring of birds is in the front this type The birds have white plumage, the back color of the feather is black. The limbs are black, which is why this species received the name black-footed penguins. Note that on the chest of these waterfowl there are small dark spots that are unique to each bird.Above the eyes of spectacled penguins there are light pink glands, the main purpose of which is to control thermoregulation. With a significant increase in body temperature, blood flows more intensively into these glands to be cooled by the surrounding air.
Males differ from females not only in their larger build, but also in their larger beaks. The black and white color of the penguin, in fact, is an effective protection of birds in the water from various predators by creating countershadows. The plumage color of young individuals is lighter in color.
Features of reproduction
Spectacled penguins are monogamous birds that mate on long term, sexual maturity of individuals occurs upon reaching 4-5 years. The breeding season of black-footed penguins directly depends on climatic conditions; in the southern part of the continent, the bird's peak breeding season occurs in the spring, in Namibia - from November to December. The number of eggs that the female lays is no more than 2. The incubation process is carried out by both representatives of the pair, the duration of the incubation period is about 40 days.
The first outfit of hatched penguin chicks is light gray fluff. At first, the offspring born are with their parents. After one month, the young animals are united in the so-called “nursery”. Young penguins receive their first adult plumage at the age of 2 to 4 months; as a rule, the beginning of the first moult directly depends on the habitat and food of the birds. Having received their adult attire, the young offspring go to the sea. In their natural habitat, spectacled penguins live up to 15 years. The maximum age of individuals is 27 years.
Behavior and nutrition
Spectacled penguins are birds that cannot fly. The sounds made by these birds are reminiscent of donkey cries. During the molting period, birds cannot forage for food in the water, which is explained by the fact that the feather cover of penguins becomes water-permeable. The duration of the molting period is usually about 3 weeks.
Black-footed penguins most They spend their lives in water, with the exception of the breeding season. Maximum speed movement in water reaches 20 km/h.
Natural enemies in aquatic environment– sharks, killer whales and fur seals. Ground enemies include caracals and mongooses. Bird eggs are often stolen from nests by seagulls.The main diet is small fish, crustaceans and squid; every day an adult of this bird species consumes at least 500 grams. food.
- This type of penguin is often called donkey penguin, which is explained by the sounds made by the bird (the period of feeding the chicks).
- Black-footed penguins are birds that are excellent swimmers; in search of prey to feed, they are capable of quite deep dive(up to 120-130 m.).
- Some time ago, the population of this penguin species was quite widespread. Unfortunately, currently there are only about 30 colonies of this species of waterfowl.
Video: Spectacled penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Kingdom: Animalia Type: Chordata Class: Birds Order: Penguinaceae Family: Penguinidae Genus: Spectacled penguins Spectacled penguin
Latin name Spheniscus demersus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Spectacled penguin. Vulnerable species. Characteristic signs species - a kind of black “mask” bordered with white, and a narrow black stripe crossing the top of the chest and going down along the sides of the body. Spectacled penguins nest in small numbers on the southern and southwestern coasts of Africa, but the main colonies are located on the nearest islands. At the beginning of the century, spectacled penguins were one of the most popular species.
About 1.5 million birds nested on the island of Dusseneiland alone. The collection of penguin eggs has been carried out for many years in industrial scale- until the middle of our century, hundreds of thousands of eggs annually. Uncontrolled exploitation of colonies, a reduction in food supplies due to overfishing, as well as pollution of coastal areas of the sea with petroleum products have led to a sharp decline in the number of spectacled penguins.
In 1956, the total number of adult spectacled penguins in Namibia and South Africa was determined to be 295 thousand individuals; census materials from 1978 showed that about 114 thousand birds remained in these areas. Since 1969, the procurement of eggs has been prohibited, and since 1973 this species has been protected by a special act of South Africa. Several islands with penguin colonies are included in the Cape Marine Reserve.
habitats Red List ratings
Year of Publication: 2015 Date of Rating: 2013-11-03 Endangered A2ace + 3ce + 4ace Ver 3.1Previously published Red List assessments:
2013 – Endangered (EN) In danger, or endangered 2012 – Endangered (EN) In danger, or endangered 2010 – Endangered (EN) In danger, or endangered 2008 – Vulnerable (VU) Vulnerable 2005 – Vulnerable (VU) Vulnerable 2004 – Vulnerable (VU)Vulnerable 2000 – Vulnerable (VU)Vulnerable 1994 – Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt)low risk/close to threat. 1988 – Threatened (T)under threatLiterature: A. A. Vinokurov Rare and endangered birds. Edited by Academician V. E. Sokolov. IUCN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22678129/0
Order – Penguin-like (Sphenisciformes)
Family – Penguins (Spheniscidae)
Genus – Spectacled penguins (Spheniscus)
Spectacled penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
At the beginning of the 20th century, these birds were on the verge of extinction. The reason for this was the use of their eggs for food by the local population. African penguins did not have time to hatch their eggs, as residents simply collected them. Today, this species is listed in the International Red Book and is protected by law.
Appearance:
Penguins have a streamlined torpedo-shaped body; loose wings, in the course of evolution, became dense flippers; short legs. Short feathers fit tightly to each other, protecting the skin from wetness, heat and hypothermia. Penguins don't fly.
This species is the largest of its genus. Reaches a height of 65-70 cm and a weight of 2.1 - 3.7 kg. Males are slightly larger than females. They also have a higher beak, but the differences are only visible when the birds stand side by side.
The coloring, like most penguins, is black at the back, white at the front. There is a narrow black horseshoe-shaped stripe on the chest, which goes down the sides of the body to the paws. In addition, a white stripe goes around the back of the head and cheeks and then goes forward to the eyes and further towards the beak, but does not reach the beak.
The chicks hatch with their eyes closed and covered in dark gray down. The legs and beak are black.
Young birds, before their first moult, differ in color from adults. The back, upper chest and flippers, head are black. The throat, lower part of the flippers, sides and belly are white. There is a thin white “eyeliner” around the eyes. The beak and paws are black. Young birds develop black dots on their bellies, individual for each individual, which remain for life.
Area:
The only penguin species that breeds in Africa. Its distribution roughly coincides with the cold Benguela Current, but in to a greater extent it is due to the presence of coastal islands suitable for nesting.
On this moment There are 27 spectacled penguin colonies, of which only three are on the mainland coast. And in another 10 places the birds no longer nest, although they nested there before. The current global population is about 70,000 pairs, but this is only 10% of what it was in 1900, when about 1.5 million birds nested on Dassen Island alone. By 1956, the number of penguins had halved, and then the next halving of numbers occurred by the end of the 1970s, when about 220 thousand adult birds were counted. By the end of the 1980s, the number dropped to 194 thousand individuals, and in the early 1990s it amounted to 197 thousand adult birds. By the end of the 1990s, the number began to increase slightly and in 1999 reached 224 thousand individuals.
Nutrition:
They feed mainly on pelagic schooling fish species, such as anchovies, sardines, as well as mollusks and crustaceans.
When hunting, it can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. On average, the spectacled penguin's dive duration is 2.5 minutes, and the depth is 30 m, although dives up to 130 m have been recorded. The distance that penguins move away during feeding depends on both time and the position of the colony. On the west coast, penguins swim 30-70 km per feeding, while on the southern coast - 110 km. While the parents are feeding the chicks, the birds' movements are more limited.
Reproduction:
The nesting period extends throughout the year. Spectacled penguins are monogamous. Having formed a couple, they remain faithful to each other for life. They return from the sea to their previous nesting site; if the meeting does not take place due to the death of a partner, then they can find a new companion.
They nest in rocky areas. Sometimes they dig holes, but more often they use small holes hidden by vegetation. Nesting under the cover of something provides the shade necessary to protect the chick from overheating.
The clutch consists of 2 eggs. Both parents alternately incubate her for 40 days. The duration of partner changes depends on feeding conditions and averages 2.5 days.
Both parents take care of the chicks, and for the first 15 days, until thermoregulation is established, one of them constantly warms the chicks. Up to one month of age, while the chicks are still small, one of the parents protects them from attack by seagulls. After this, both parents can go to sea to feed the chicks. At this time, the penguin chicks form a “nursery”.
At the age of 60-130 days, young birds, becoming independent, leave the colonies. They spend 12-22 months at sea, after which they return to their home colony, where they molt into adult plumage.
Our pets:
In 2011, spectacled penguins arrived in our park from South Africa. These birds, due to their curious nature, immediately became favorites of the public. But, despite their curiosity, these penguins are distinguished by their cowardice and caution. If they are accustomed to the fact that this particular person feeds them, then they will never approach another. Moreover, if something new is discovered in a familiar “breadwinner” - hair color, hairstyle, a different color T-shirt - you may not expect attention from these cute birds. In addition, spectacled penguins are great fighters. They conflict over everything - a place in the sun, fish, a partner - and just like that, to maintain morale.
In 2014, one of the couples pleased us with an egg, from which our first chick, Chudi, hatched in an incubator. In 2016, the same couple gave birth to another chick, who was named Mila. And more recently, in July 2017, the couple gave birth to another chick, which has not yet been named.
Interesting fact:
The spectacled penguin is also called the donkey penguin because of its shrill cry.
IN wildlife The spectacled penguin lives 10–12 years.
The name "penguin" comes from English word penguin. According to one of the existing versions, translated from Welsh pengwyn means white head.
The spectacled penguin is also characterized by good endurance. Representatives of this species dive to a depth of more than 100 m, hold their breath for several minutes, and can swim non-stop for up to 120 km, while developing speeds of up to 20 km/h.
Class - Birds / Subclass - New palates / Superorder - Penguinaceae
History of the study
The spectacled penguin, or donkey penguin, or black-footed penguin (lat. Spheniscus demersus) is a species of bird from the spectacled penguin genus.
Spreading
The distribution area is the coast of South Africa and Namibia and nearby islands in the area of the cold Benguela Current. Lives in colonies. Today the population is estimated at 140-180 thousand individuals. Moreover, in the 1900s the population was estimated at at least 2 million individuals.
Appearance
The spectacled penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is comparable in size to the Magellanic and Humboldt penguins. Its length, on average, is 68 cm, and its weight is 2.1-3.7 kg. Males are slightly larger than females. They also have a taller bill, but the differences are clearly visible when the birds stand side by side. Spectacled penguins are black above and white below. They have a narrow black horseshoe-shaped stripe on their chest, which goes down the sides of the body to the paws. Some birds have a double stripe, like the Magellanic penguin. In addition, a white stripe goes around the back of the head and cheeks and then goes forward to the eyes and further towards the beak, but does not reach the beak.
Reproduction
The nesting period of the spectacled penguin is extended. In most colonies, birds at any stage of the nesting cycle can be found throughout the year. However, there are still some regional differences: peak breeding in Namibia occurs in November-December, while in South Africa it occurs in March-May. Spectacled penguins are monogamous and the same pair will usually return to the same colony and nest. 80-90% of pairs remain together for the next breeding season. There are cases where partners stayed together for more than 10 years. The clutch consists of 2 eggs. Both parents alternately incubate her for 40 days. The duration of partner changes depends on feeding conditions and averages 2.5 days. Both parents take care of the chicks, and for the first 15 days, until thermoregulation is established, one of them constantly warms the chicks. Further, up to a month of age, while the chicks are still small and one of the parents protects them from attack by seagulls. After this, both parents can go to sea to feed the chicks. At this time, the penguin chicks form “nurseries”, which serve mainly to protect them not from predation by gulls, but from attacks from adult birds. "Fledglings" leave the colony at the age of 60-130 days. The duration of the nesting period, the weight of fledglings, and the productivity of the breeding season depend on the availability and quality of food. After leaving the colony, young birds become independent. They spend 12-22 months at sea, after which they return to their home colony, where they molt into adult plumage.
Lifestyle
Penguins in water can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h, dive deeper than 100 m and hold their breath for 2-3 minutes. During feeding they can swim 70-120 km in the ocean. They feed mainly on small fish (fry of herring, anchovies, sardines, etc.). The main enemies are humans, sharks, seagulls (for chicks), fur seals (as a competitor for prey and as a predator) and feral cats (for chicks and eggs in some colonies).
The cries of penguins resemble those of donkeys. A penguin lives 10-12 years, females usually begin to give birth at 4-5 years. The clutch consists of two eggs, which are incubated by both parents in turn for about 40 days. The chicks are covered with brownish-gray down, later with a bluish tint. The breeding season is not clearly defined and varies depending on the location.
Nutrition
Spectacled penguins feed mainly on pelagic schooling fish species, such as anchovies, sardines, as well as mollusks and crustaceans.
Number
The species is listed in the International Red Book. There are currently 27 spectacled penguin colonies, of which only three are on the mainland coast. And in another 10 places the birds no longer nest, although they nested there before. Currently, the world population is about 70,000 pairs, but this is only 10% of what it was in 1900, when on only one island. About 1.5 million birds nested in Dassin. By 1956 The penguin population halved, followed by a further halving in numbers by the late 1970s, when about 220,000 adult birds were counted. By the end of the 1980s. the number dropped to 194 thousand individuals, and in the early 1990s. it amounted to 197 thousand adult birds. By the end of the 1990s. the number began to increase slightly and in 1999 reached 224 thousand individuals. The reasons for this decline in the number of spectacled penguins are well known. At first, this was caused by the extraction of birds and their eggs for food, as well as the collection of guano in their colonies. Currently, the main threats come from commercial fishing and oil pollution. Penguins also compete for food and breeding sites with fur seals, whose numbers have increased manifold in recent decades. To top it off, fur seals also hunt penguins. Feral cats are also becoming a problem in some colonies. The eggs and chicks of spectacled penguins are eaten by kelp gulls and sacred ibises; on mainland penguin colonies, mongooses, genets and leopards eat them.
Loading...
