Afrikaanse pinguïn buiten ZooParc Overloon
African penguin

"The African penguin balks, just like a donkey."

Discover in real life
African penguinSpheniscus demersus

  • Habitat

    southwest Africa

  • Food

    anchovies, herring and mackerel

  • Lifetime

    up to 27 years of age

  • Weight

    3 kilograms

  • Length

    45 centimeters

  • Number of youngsters

    2

  • Incubation time

    40 days

  • IUCN Status

    Endangered

  • EEP

    Yes

  • 40

    days, that's how long it takes for an egg to hatch

  • 27

    years, that's how old the oldest African penguin became

  • 3

    kilograms, that's how much an African penguin weighs on average

    • Breeding together

    African penguins form pairs for life. They both have a piece of bare skin at the beginning of their abdomen. This helps them keep the eggs, which they incubate together, warmer.

    Waterproof

    Did you already know that birds have a fat lump on their backs? With their beak, they absorb fat and carefully brush it along each feather. This keeps a bird's plumage waterproof. Pretty handy if you're a penguin!

    Want to know more about IUCN status or the EEP? Clickhere