Description
& Characteristics:
Galapagos penguins are the smallest and most northerly of
the warm weather penguins. They can be found only on the Galapagos
Islands off the coast of Ecuador. In fact, they are the only
penguin species to cross into the Northern Hemisphere with
small populations located on the north coast of Isabela Island,
just miles north of the Equator.
They were brought to the Galapagos Islands by the Humboldt
Current, which brings cold waters and nutrients north from
Antarctica.
The
distinguishing features of the Galapagos penguins include:
a narrow white band extending from the eye to under the chin
and a black band that runs in an upside-down horseshoe shape
around their fronts. Although the pattern of banding on Galapagos
penguins is similar to that on Magellanic
penguins, the Galapagos penguins are considerably smaller
and the main black band around their front is much thinner.
The bill is longer and more slender than the bills of its
other temperate region cousins. Adult penguins have a bluish-black
head, back, and flippers when new. Older worn feathers, dull
to a brown color and are somewhat ragged in appearance.
Galapagos
penguins are not migratory; they stay in temperate waters
year round, eating mostly small tropical fish, such as mullet
and sardines, and crustaceans caught on shallow pursuit dives.
They are dependent on cold nutrient-rich ocean currents to
bring fish to their feeding grounds. In years when warm waters
from the El Niño Current are prevalent, Galapagos penguin
population may experience heavy declines. Predators include
the Galapagos shark and the occasional seal.
On shore, penguin eggs and chicks are subject to predation
by the Galapagos hawk and introduced rats.
Galapagos
penguins nest in burrows or sheltered under crevices in the
volcanic rocks of their rugged islands. Adults mate for life.
Females lay two eggs, generally between May and January; some
penguins may mate as often as every six months but this depends
strongly on food availability. The incubation period for the
eggs is five or six weeks. Upon hatching, the stronger chick
is often fed preferentially so that only it survives. Both
male and female share responsibility for feeding and caring
for the young, with one parent always on 'guard duty' for
the first 30 days. By two months, the chicks have fledged
(grown their adult feathers) and are ready to feed and fend
for themselves. .
