Species Data
Common Name
Galapagos penguin
Scientific Name
Spheniscus mendiculus
Spanish Name
Pingüino de Galápagos
Conservation Status
Endangered
Endemic/Native/Introduced
Endemic
Size
50 cm height
Weight
Average: 2.5 Kilograms
Maximum: Unknown
Average Lifespan
Up to 20 years
Predators
Snakes, owls and hawks as well as introduced rats and cats are threats for Galapagos penguins on the land. In the sea, penguins may be predated upon by sharks, fur seals or sea lions.
Food
Piscivore (eats small fish and squid)
Animal Class
Bird
Species Overview
The Galapagos penguin is the most northerly occurring penguin species in the world and is endemic to Galapagos. The majority of the population are found on the rocky coastlines of the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela.
They are the third smallest penguin in the world and are incredibly streamlined, swimming at speeds of up to 35 km per hour – almost 20 times faster than a human.
Galapagos penguins are very rare with a population of less than 2,000 birds. Penguin breeding is very closely linked to the environment and, for this reason, climate change is a major threat to their future.
Penguin (Galapagos) features on these pages:
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