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Galapagos penguin: Difference between revisions
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! {{animal header}} | '''Image Description''' | ! {{animal header}} | '''Image Description''' | ||
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The Spheniscus mendiculus | The '''Galapagos penguin''' is a species of penguin known by the scientific name ''Spheniscus mendiculus''. It is the third smallest species of penguin in the world and are the only species of penguin found north of the equator. Being the rarest species of penguins in the world, the Galapagos penguin is classified as an endangered species after their numbers declined by 70% in the 1980’s due to the El Niño. Galapagos penguins are colonial as they live in colonies and usually stay together in groups. Most of their time is spent socializing with other Galapagos penguins in their groups. Because they live in large colonies, their numbers discourage their predators and they are able to hunt in groups. They are able to communicate with each other through calls and various body movements, like flapping their wings, which helps to keep predators away from their eggs. | ||
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The Galapagos penguin’s face is mostly black with a thin white line that begins at the top of each of their eyes and continues around their head all of the way down to their throat. Unlike other species of banded penguins, which have a very defined line, the Galapagos penguins white line is not defined very well. They have a long and slender beak which is black on the top part and pink, which blends into white at the middle and then into black at the tip of the beak.Just like the line on their face the Galapagos penguin has a not very well defined thick black stripe that runs up each of their legs all of the way to the top of their chest. This line is not even visible on some Galapagos penguins, who instead only have a set of black dots. They might also have a few random small round dark spots on their chest and abdomen. | The Galapagos penguin’s face is mostly black with a thin white line that begins at the top of each of their eyes and continues around their head all of the way down to their throat. Unlike other species of banded penguins, which have a very defined line, the Galapagos penguins white line is not defined very well. They have a long and slender beak which is black on the top part and pink, which blends into white at the middle and then into black at the tip of the beak.Just like the line on their face the Galapagos penguin has a not very well defined thick black stripe that runs up each of their legs all of the way to the top of their chest. This line is not even visible on some Galapagos penguins, who instead only have a set of black dots. They might also have a few random small round dark spots on their chest and abdomen. | ||
== Life Cycle == | == Life Cycle == | ||
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The Galapagos penguins diet usually includes hunting and eating small fish such as mullet and sardines. But because of their small size they are preyed on by many animals both in the water and on land. On land, they are preyed upon by crabs, snakes, rice rats, cats, Galapagos hawks, and short-eared owls. In the water they are preyed upon by sharks, fur seals, and sea lions. | The Galapagos penguins diet usually includes hunting and eating small fish such as mullet and sardines. But because of their small size they are preyed on by many animals both in the water and on land. On land, they are preyed upon by crabs, snakes, rice rats, cats, Galapagos hawks, and short-eared owls. In the water they are preyed upon by sharks, fur seals, and sea lions. | ||
== Ecology == | == Ecology == | ||
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The Galapagos penguins live in caves and crevices that were formed by old lava flows that are close to the shore, where they can cool down from the warm climate in the cool ocean water. There is normally very little movement of the Galapagos penguin populations on the several islands that they inhabit. Although when there is a limited amount of food available for them, they will travel a farther distance away to find food. | The Galapagos penguins live in caves and crevices that were formed by old lava flows that are close to the shore, where they can cool down from the warm climate in the cool ocean water. There is normally very little movement of the Galapagos penguin populations on the several islands that they inhabit. Although when there is a limited amount of food available for them, they will travel a farther distance away to find food. | ||
== Conservation == | == Conservation == | ||
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The Galapagos Penguin is considered to be an endangered species. Since the 1970’s, the galapagos penguins population has had large fluctuations that have placed the galapagos penguin’s small population in trouble of extinction. There has been a massive decrease in their genetic diversity, which could cause problems like their ability to adapt and overcome future diseases or changes in their source of food. The galapagos penguin population have had many years of warm, unproductive waters because of El Niño. Because of the warmer waters caused by El Niño, parent penguins have had to leave their young chicks, many of whom have died, to search for food to survive, this has caused a drop in the numbers of the galapagos penguins. Research is being done to try and stop some of the other causes of the decline in the population of the galapagos penguins. | The Galapagos Penguin is considered to be an endangered species. Since the 1970’s, the galapagos penguins population has had large fluctuations that have placed the galapagos penguin’s small population in trouble of extinction. There has been a massive decrease in their genetic diversity, which could cause problems like their ability to adapt and overcome future diseases or changes in their source of food. The galapagos penguin population have had many years of warm, unproductive waters because of El Niño. Because of the warmer waters caused by El Niño, parent penguins have had to leave their young chicks, many of whom have died, to search for food to survive, this has caused a drop in the numbers of the galapagos penguins. Research is being done to try and stop some of the other causes of the decline in the population of the galapagos penguins. | ||
== Video == | == Video == | ||
