Why are Galapagos penguins important to the environment?
The penguins are an important food source for a variety of animals. The main terrestrial predators for the chicks and adults include Galapagos Rice Rats, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, snakes, hawks and owls as well as domestic or feral cats and dogs. In the water, they are consumed by sharks and other large marine predators.
How has the Galapagos penguin adapted to its environment?
Living in the sun To prevent overheating in the sun, the Galapagos penguin has less body fat and fewer feathers than cold-weather penguins, and has areas of bare skin that they use to radiate heat away from their bodies.
What does a Galapagos penguin need to survive?
As with all penguin species, they are extremely agile under water, reaching speeds of 35 km per hour when hunting. Their diet consists primarily of cold-water schooling fish, such as anchovies, sardines and mullet, which are able to live in the Galapagos Marine Reserve thanks to the cold waters of the Humboldt Current.
Why do Galapagos penguins live near the equator?
This species is able to survive at the equator because of the unique biogeography of the Galapagos Islands. Cold, productive water travels from Antarctica via the Humboldt Current, which flows to this island group. Like many animals near the equator, Galapagos penguins breed year round.
What are Galapagos penguin special features?
Galapagos penguin, (Spheniscus mendiculus), species of penguin (order Sphenisciformes) characterized by the presence of a narrow C-shaped band of white feathers that extends from the eye to the chin on each side of the head and a single band of black feathers that cuts across the large region of white feathers on the …
What makes Galapagos penguins unique?
4) Galapagos Penguins Have Unique Adaptations By leaning forward they shade their feet from the sun, and they stretch their flippers out to the sides. This stance helps them keep cool because they loose heat from the underparts of their flippers, and the skin on their feet. They also pant to cool down.
What are 3 adaptations of Galapagos penguins?
To survive in a tropical climate, Galapagos penguins have adapted in a number of ways. By leaning forward they shade their feet from the sun, and they stretch their flippers out to the sides. This stance helps them keep cool because they loose heat from the underparts of their flippers, and the skin on their feet.
What are the characteristics of a Galapagos penguin?
What is a Galapagos penguin classified as?
Birds
Reptiles
Galapagos penguin/Class
What is a Galapagos penguins habitat?
Habitat. Galapagos penguins occupy coastal areas and offshore waters where the cold Cromwell Current brings food and other population-sustaining necessities into the vicinity.
What do Galapagos penguins facts?
Fun Facts. The Galápagos penguin goes through two molts per year, each lasting about 13 days. Galápagos penguins are the only penguin species to live on the equator. For more information about penguins, explore the Penguin InfoBook.
What is a Galapagos Penguin classified as?
What are the characteristics of Galapagos penguins?
The Galápagos Penguin is the smallest of the warm weather penguins. It stands only 16 to 18 inches (40 to 45 centimetres) tall and weighs only 5 pounds (2 to 2.5 kilograms). Galapagos penguins have a thin white band that runs under their chin. They have a black upside down horseshoe shape around their belly.
Where do Galapagos penguins live?
The Galapagos Penguin occurs primarily on Fernandina Island and the west coast of Isabela Island, but small populations are scattered on other islands in the Galapagos archipelago. The Galápagos Penguin is the smallest of the warm weather penguins.
What is the smallest type of Penguin?
Galapagos penguins are the smallest of the banded penguins, and they have no subspecies. Among all banded penguins, the Galapagos penguin is the easiest to recognize because they have black feathers on most of their body, with some distinctive white marks on their face, beak, and chest.
Why do Penguins only live on the equator?
It is the only penguin to live on the equator in a tropical environment. The Galápagos Penguin survives due to the cool ocean temperatures resulting from the Humboldt Current and cool waters from great depths brought up by the Cromwell Current. (See Galapagos Ocean).