Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Black-footed Penguin
The black-footed penguin inhabits 16 islands off the coast of south and southwestern Africa.
Slightly smaller than South American penguins. Their body is shaped like a bowling pin with webbed feet. Piebald, with a white stripe encircling the black cheek and throat, and a black stripe extending in the shape of a horseshoe across the chest and along the flanks. They also have bare skin forming pink spectacles around the eyes. These aid in heat dispersal when penguins leave cold water for a warm shore. They are more commonly known as jackass penguins because they sound so much like braying donkeys. Magellanic and Galapagos penguins have a second stripe on their chest. Their feathers help them to regulate their body temperature and act as a water proofing when swimming in the water.
Pairs are monogamous. Both build a nest of hardened guano, grass, feathers and pebbles. 2-3 eggs are laid at a time. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for a period of 38 days. The chicks are born with thick gray feathers to help keep them warm and act as a camouflage. The chicks start swimming and eating on their own at 2 months of age.
Slightly smaller than South American penguins. Their body is shaped like a bowling pin with webbed feet. Piebald, with a white stripe encircling the black cheek and throat, and a black stripe extending in the shape of a horseshoe across the chest and along the flanks. They also have bare skin forming pink spectacles around the eyes. These aid in heat dispersal when penguins leave cold water for a warm shore. They are more commonly known as jackass penguins because they sound so much like braying donkeys. Magellanic and Galapagos penguins have a second stripe on their chest. Their feathers help them to regulate their body temperature and act as a water proofing when swimming in the water.
Pairs are monogamous. Both build a nest of hardened guano, grass, feathers and pebbles. 2-3 eggs are laid at a time. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for a period of 38 days. The chicks are born with thick gray feathers to help keep them warm and act as a camouflage. The chicks start swimming and eating on their own at 2 months of age.
# posted by saffron @ 9:43 AM 
