GALAPAGOS PENGUINAlicia Stith & Malik Westry

Scientific Name: Spheniscus Mendiculus

Natural Habitat: Forages in the waters off the South American islands; Mainly found on Fernandina Island and on the west coast of Isabella Island, but small populations are also found scattered on other islands in the Galapagos

Diet: Feed on small fish including mullet and sardines

Size: approximately 50 cm (19.6 inches) in height and they weigh approximately 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs)

Housing Requirements: these birds rest on sandy shores and rocky beaches and nest on areas of sheltered coast

Climate Requirements: temperature at the islands stays between 15 and 28 degrees Celsius (59–82 °F); usually breed when the sea surface temperature is below 24 degrees Celsius

Predator/prey: crabs, snakes, birds of prey, cats, dogs, rats, sharks, seals and sea lions

Reproduction: reach reproductive maturity (female) 3 to 4 years old;

(male) 4 to 6 years old 4 to 6 eggs per season breeding season lasts throughout the year; however, most

breeding takes place between May and July Solitary or pack animal?

Pack

Why/When Endangered Why are they endangered?

The El Niño global weather pattern and ocean pollution When El Niño happens, ocean water gets warmer, and the

fish that Galápagos Penguins feed on will die; Nobody knows what causes El Niño

In the water: they are preyed on by sharks, fur seals, and sea lions

On land: major threats include overheating, starvation, or predation by introduced cats, dogs and rats on Isabella Island

Human disturbance is the main cause for ecosystem harm that affects the nesting grounds of Galapagos penguins

June 2, 1970 -listed as endangered IUCN Red List of Threatened Species & United States

Endangered Species Act

Population left: Endangered population estimated between 3,000-

8,000 penguins 800 breeding pairs left in the world

Conservation efforts: Recently the Galapagos Conservation Trust launched

the Sylvia Harcourt-Carrasco Bird Life Fund for Galapagos that will aim much of its efforts at conserving the population of Galapagos penguins

The whole Galápagos Penguin population is found within the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. The population is annually monitored and introduced predators are controlled by the Galápagos National Park Service.

Galapagos Penguin Quiz

1. Where are Galapagos Penguins found?

2. What do Galapagos Penguins eat? 3. Is the Galapagos Penguin a

solitary or pack animal? 4. What are some reasons why the

Galapagos Penguin is endangered? 5. How much of the Galapagos

population is left?

Works Cited http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=246 http://www.theanimalfiles.com/birds/penguins/galapago

s_penguin.html http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Sphen

iscus_mendiculus/ http://

www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/library/sea/galapagos-penguin.html

http://www.earthsendangered.com/%5C/profile-349.html

http://eol.org/pages/1049620/details