African Penguin

ocean · Africa · penguin · endangered

Africa's unique penguin. The African penguin is the only penguin species that lives in the Old World, making it Africa's very own penguin. All other penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly around Antarctica and South America.

Pink eye patches. African penguins have bright pink patches of bare skin above their eyes and a black facial mask, making them look like they're wearing a fancy disguise. These colorful markings help them stand out from other penguin species.

Medium-sized swimmers. African penguins are about 60 to 70 centimeters tall and weigh between 2.2 and 3.5 kilograms, making them roughly the size of a large chicken. They're perfectly sized for diving and hunting fish in the ocean.

Flipper swimmers. Like all penguins, African penguins cannot fly through the air, but their wings have become stiffened flippers that make them incredible swimmers. Their streamlined bodies let them zoom through water with amazing speed and grace.