The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is the only penguin found north of the equator. The cool waters of the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents allow it to survive despite the tropical latitude. The Galápagos penguin is one of the banded penguins, the other species of which live mostly on the coasts of Africa and mainland South America. It is one of the smallest species of penguin in the world. Because of their warm environment, Galápagos penguins have developed techniques to stay cool. They live about 15 to 20 years, but due to predation, life expectancy of these adorable birds in the wild could be significantly reduced.
Galápagos penguins have a black head with a white border running from behind the eye, around the black ear coverts and chin, to join on the throat. The top of the beaks are black and fade into pink on the bottom. They have two black bands across the breast that connect to the back, the lower band extending down the flanks to the thigh. Juveniles differ in having a wholly dark head, grayer on the side and chin, and no breast band. Females of this species are usually smaller than males.
These penguins inhabit the Galápagos Islands, off the western coast of Ecuador. The species is found along the coastlines of the Galápagos archipelago, but the highest concentration of the penguins is on Fernandina Island as well as the west coast of Isabela Island. These birds construct their nests in sheltered coastal areas. Galápagos penguins can be seen resting on both rocky and sandy beaches.
Due to the temperate waters of their range, Galápagos penguins live in the same area throughout the year. They are social birds, gathering into large colonies, where they hunt together as well as find protection from predators. When the weather gets too hot, the penguins stretch out their flippers to cool off. In order to prevent their feet from getting sunburned on land, they usually hold their flippers over their feet, protecting them from direct rays. At sunrise, these penguins leave their burrows, spending their time eating, socializing with members of their colony, caring for the chicks, and playing in the water. At the sunset, they return back to their burrows by marching.
Galápagos penguins are carnivores (piscivores), consuming small marine invertebrates as well as all small species of fish, including mullets, sardines, pilchards, and anchovies.
Galápagos penguins have a monogamous mating system, forming lifelong pairs. Galápagos penguins mate all year round with a peak period, lasting from May to July. These birds typically build their nests in caves or volcanic-formed hollows, where the eggs can be protected from the sunlight. The female lays 1-2 eggs, which are incubated by both parents during 38-40 days. Meanwhile, if both eggs hatch, the parents will raise only a single chick. During the incubation period as well as after hatching, one of the parents stays with the eggs or hatchling, and the other leaves the nest to forage. For the first month of its life, the chick is tended by both parents, after which they leave the baby on its own, going to sea. Fledging occurs at about 60 days of age. Galápagos penguins become completely independent at 3-6 months old. Reproductive maturity is reached at 4-6 years old for males and at 3-4 years for females.
Galápagos penguins are exposed to global climate change. They are threatened by their natural predators as well as the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which decreases the amount of shoaling fish, which, in turn, reduces reproduction success and brings starvation. In addition, the birds are occasionally drowned in fisheries and suffer from oil spills.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Galápagos penguin is 1,200 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Preying on a wide variety of marine organisms, these penguins control numbers of these species populations in the coastal waters of the Galápagos archipelago. In addition, these penguins are important prey species for other marine and avian predators of the area.
