Blackfooted penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Animal facts
Penguins have about 70 short stiff feathers per square inch. They spend nine months at sea and return to land only to breed and moult. They nest in burrows to escape the heat and lay two eggs. At sea, they appear to fly through the water with speed. This species is threatened by oil pollution and reduction of food supply due to overfishing.
Where they live
Seas off South Africa and Namibia
Habitat
Coastal waters and beaches
What they eat
Fish (especially anchovies), squid and krill
IUCN status
Vulnerable
Conservation work
Find out how McVitie's Penguin is helping ZSL's penguin research