Penguins of South Africa. Order penguins (Sphenisciformes) Why is the spectacled penguin called donkey?
(Linnaeus, )
SpreadingThe cries of penguins resemble those of donkeys. A penguin lives 10-12 years, females usually begin to give birth at 4-5 years. The clutch consists of two eggs, which are incubated by both parents in turn for about 40 days. The chicks are covered with brownish-gray down, later with a bluish tint. The breeding season is not clearly defined and varies depending on the location. Causes of disappearance and protectionGallerySpectacled Penguin I.jpg Spectacled penguin at the Moscow Zoo Spectacled Penguin II.jpg Spectacled Penguin III.jpg Write a review about the article "Glasses Penguin"NotesLiterature
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An excerpt characterizing the Spectacled Penguin
I just nodded, enchanted by the beauty of her voice, not wanting to interrupt the story, which was like a quiet, dreamy melody...– Already at the age of ten I could do a lot... I could fly, walk through the air, treat people suffering from the most serious illnesses, see what was coming. My mother taught me everything she knew...
- How to fly?!. IN physical body fly?!. Like a bird? – Stella blurted out, unable to bear it.
I was very sorry that she interrupted this magically flowing narrative!.. But kind, emotional Stella apparently was not able to calmly withstand such stunning news...
Isidora only smiled brightly at her... and we saw another, but even more stunning, picture...
In a marvelous marble hall, a fragile black-haired girl was spinning... With ease fairy fairy, she danced some kind of bizarre dance that only she understood, at times suddenly jumping a little and... hovering in the air. And then, having made an intricate feast and smoothly flown several steps, she came back again, and everything began from the beginning... It was so amazing and so beautiful that Stella and I took our breath away!..
And Isidora just smiled sweetly and calmly continued her interrupted story.
– My mother was a hereditary Sage. She was born in Florence - a proud, free city... in which there was only as much of its famous “freedom” as the Medici, although fabulously rich, but (unfortunately!) not omnipotent, hated by the church, could protect it. And my poor mother, like her predecessors, had to hide her Gift, since she came from a very rich and very influential family, in which it was more than undesirable to “shine” with such knowledge. Therefore, she, just like her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, had to hide her amazing “talents” from prying eyes and ears (and more often than not, even from friends!), otherwise, if the fathers of her future suitors found out about it, she would remain unmarried forever, which in her family would be considered the greatest disgrace. Mom was very strong, a truly gifted healer. And while still very young, she secretly treated almost the entire city for ailments, including the great Medici, who preferred her to their famous Greek doctors. However, very soon the “glory” about my mother’s “stormy successes” reached the ears of her father, my grandfather, who, of course, did not have a very positive attitude towards this kind of “underground” activity. And they tried to get my poor mother married as soon as possible, in order to wash away the “brewing shame” of her entire frightened family...
Whether it was an accident, or someone somehow helped, but my mother was very lucky - she was married to a wonderful man, a Venetian magnate, who... himself was a very strong sorcerer... and whom you see with us now.. .
With shining, moist eyes, Isidora looked at her amazing father, and it was clear how much and selflessly she loved him. She was a proud daughter, with dignity carrying her pure, bright feeling through the centuries, and even there, far away, in her new worlds, she did not hide or be ashamed of it. And only then did I realize how much I wanted to become like her!.. And in her power of love, and in her power as a Sage, and in everything else that this extraordinary bright woman carried within herself...
And she calmly continued to talk, as if not noticing either our “overflowing” emotions or the “puppy” delight of our souls that accompanied her wonderful story.
– That’s when my mother heard about Venice... My father spent hours telling her about the freedom and beauty of this city, about its palaces and canals, about secret gardens and huge libraries, about bridges and gondolas, and much, much more. And my impressionable mother, without even seeing this wonderful city, fell in love with it with all her heart... She couldn’t wait to see this city with her own eyes! And very soon her dream came true... Her father brought her to a magnificent palace, full of faithful and silent servants, from whom there was no need to hide. And, starting from that day, mom could spend hours doing her favorite thing, without fear of being misunderstood or, even worse, insulted. Her life became pleasant and secure. They were a truly happy married couple, who gave birth to a girl exactly one year later. They called her Isidora... It was me.
The spectacled penguin belongs to the penguin family and is included in the spectacled penguin genus. Forms a species that is also called the donkey, black-footed and African penguin. Its habitat covers the southwestern coast of Africa and 24 islands near the coast. In addition, representatives of the species live in zoos around the world, and young individuals are often found outside their natural range.
Representatives of the species reach 60-70 cm in length. Body weight is 2.5-4.5 kg. Penguins are white in front and black in back. The limbs are black. There are black stripes and spots on the chest that are unique to each individual, like fingerprints human fingers. Above the eyes there are pink glands used for thermoregulation. The higher the body temperature, the more blood is directed to the glands and cooled by the surrounding air.
Sexual dimorphism is expressed in size - males are larger than females and have larger beaks. Black and white coloring protects birds in the water from predators, as it creates countershadows. Juveniles differ in color from adults. It varies from gray-blue to brown.
Reproduction and lifespan
This species is monogamous. Spectacled penguins nest in colonies. The breeding season is extended. Its peak occurs in March-May in South Africa and in November-December in Namibia. There are 2 eggs in the clutch. They are deposited in burrows, in depressions in the soil, under boulders or in bushes. Both parents do the incubation. Incubation period lasts 40 days.
Hatched chicks are covered with brown-gray down. For a month they stay near their parents, and then unite in the so-called nurseries. Chicks fledge at the age of 60-130 days. It all depends on environment and nutrition. After this, the young birds go to sea. IN wildlife The spectacled penguin lives 10-15 years. The maximum life expectancy is 25-27 years. Puberty occurs at the age of 4-5 years.
Behavior and nutrition
Representatives of the species cannot fly. They make cries reminiscent of donkeys. During molting, they cannot forage in water, as the feathers become permeable to water. Molting takes 3 weeks. Most lives are spent at sea. Only during the breeding season do they settle on land. They can swim in water at a speed of 20 km/h. They dive to a depth of 100-120 meters. Can swim in sea water 120 km.
IN marine environment Sharks, seals and killer whales are dangerous. Ground enemies are mongooses, caracals, and domestic cats. Seagulls can steal eggs. The spectacled penguin feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans. Food is obtained no further than 20 km from the coast. An adult consumes 540 grams of food per day. During the breeding season, up to 1 kg of food.
Number
IN early XIX centuries, 4 million spectacled penguins lived on the planet. By 2000, there were 200 thousand of them. In 2010, the population size was 55 thousand adult individuals. In 2013 this type received endangered status. It is assumed that if you do not accept protective measures, then the spectacled penguin will disappear in 15 years.
This is the only representative large family penguin, which settled in southwest Africa. They settle on the coasts in colonies. Its body length is 60–70cm, weight 2–5kg. Females are slightly smaller than males. Belly, chest white, back, head and paws are black.
Short feathers fit tightly to each other, protecting the skin from getting wet, heat and hypothermia. Of course, everyone knows that penguins don't fly. But they are excellent swimmers and divers; they can survive under water without air for up to 3 minutes, while diving to a depth of 30 - 100 m. While swimming, it reaches speeds of up to 20 km/h, jumps out of the water and dives again.
He has a streamlined body, strong wings with which he pushes off, and his paws act as a rudder. On land, they waddle awkwardly, stepping with webbed paws. Spectacled penguins feed on small fish, such as anchovies, sardines, and fish fry. They hunt for crustaceans and mollusks.
His most formidable enemies are humans, mongooses, leopards and seagulls, and ibises. People collect eggs and feed on them, while predators also feast on the chicks.
Penguins nest in rocky areas. Sometimes they dig holes, but more often they use small holes hidden by vegetation. Having formed a couple, they remain faithful to each other for life. They return from the sea to their previous nesting site; if the meeting does not take place due to the death of a partner, then a new companion can be found. Typically, the female lays two eggs.
Parents take turns incubating their offspring for 40 days. The newly born chick climbs onto the paws of its mother or father. The first two weeks he is in dire need of protection and warmth, and of course food. The little penguin is dressed in gray and white fluff. At about a month of age, the chicks form a nursery, huddled together. Now the parents are more free and go for feeding 100 or more kilometers from the coast.
The babies molt and get stronger, leave the colony at 3-4 months of age, now they are independent and independent - they get their own food and defend themselves. They will stay at sea for 10 to 22 months, then return to where they were born. Before molting, adult individuals swim in the sea for a month, intensively eating and getting fat. They need to survive for 20 days, which is how long the molt lasts. Losing weight, they will wait until their plumage is completely restored and then go back to sea.
This penguin is also called the donkey penguin because of its shrill cry.
Listed in the International Red Book.
South African penguin, spectacled, or donkey(Spheniscus demersus)
Class - Birds
Order – Pigguinaceae
Family – Penguins
Genus – Spectacled penguins
The largest of the spectacled penguins. It reaches 65-70 cm in height and weighs 3-5 kg. The coloring, like most penguins, is black on the back, white on the front. There is a narrow black stripe in the shape of a horseshoe on the chest down to the paws.
The chicks are covered with brownish-gray down, later with a bluish tint.
Habitat
Habitat: the coast of South Africa and Namibia and nearby islands in the area of the cold Benguela Current.
In nature
Lives in colonies. Spectacled penguins feed primarily on pelagic schooling species fish, such as anchovies, sardines, as well as molluscs and crustaceans. When hunting, it can reach a speed of 20 km/h. On average, the spectacled penguin's dive duration is 2.5 minutes, and the depth is 30 m, although dives up to 130 m have been recorded. The distance to which penguins move while feeding depends on both time and the position of the colony.
Reproduction
They begin to breed at the age of 2-6 years, but usually at 4 years. The nesting period of the spectacled penguin is extended. In most colonies, birds at any stage of the nesting cycle can be found throughout the year. However, there are still some regional differences: Peak breeding in Namibia is between November and December, while in South Africa it is between March and May.
Spectacled penguins are monogamous and the same pair will usually return to the same colony and nest. 80-90% of pairs remain together for the next breeding season. There are cases where partners stayed together for more than 10 years. The clutch consists of 2 eggs. Both parents alternately incubate her for 40 days. The duration of partner changes depends on feeding conditions and averages 2.5 days. Both parents take care of the chicks, and for the first 15 days, until thermoregulation is established, one of them constantly warms the chicks. Further, up to a month of age, while the chicks are still small and one of the parents protects them from attack by seagulls. After this, both parents can go to sea to feed the chicks. At this time, the penguin chicks form “nurseries”, which serve mainly to protect them not from predation by gulls, but from attacks from adult birds. “Fledglings” leave the colony at the age of 60-130 days.
The duration of the nesting period, the weight of fledglings, and the productivity of the breeding season depend on the availability and quality of food. After leaving the colony, young birds become independent. They spend 12-22 months at sea, after which they return to their home colony, where they molt into adult plumage.
The molt of adult spectacled penguins is more synchronized than the breeding season. In South Africa, most penguins molt in November-January, while in Namibia they molt in April-May. The molt itself lasts about 20 days. In front of her, penguins accumulate fat at sea for about 5 weeks and lose almost half their weight when they molt. Having completed their moult, the birds spend about 6 weeks at sea to regain their previous weight.
Life expectancy is about 10-12 years.
Required for penguins special conditions, requiring not only a special pool, but also a climate control system. Seemingly harmless creatures, they have a complex character and at any moment can peck or bite until they bleed. Birds are a lot of trouble. They often get sick and are very picky about food - they prefer mainly fish. Despite all the difficulties of keeping them, penguins feel great in captivity.
For a comfortable stay, penguins need a cold atmosphere, a spacious swimming pool and a rocky shore. The air temperature is no higher than 18-20°C, the water temperature in the pool is 10-15°C. In addition, penguins do not tolerate the sun well, so if the enclosure is located outside, it is necessary to build a grotto in it where the penguins could hide during the day.
A small bird belonging to the genus of penguins, whose representatives live outside Antarctica.
Taxonomy
Russian name– South African penguin, or spectacled penguin, or donkey penguin
Latin name – Spheniscus demersus
English name– Jackass penguin
Class – Birds (Aves)
Order – Penguin-like (Sphenisciformes)
Family – Penguins (Sphenisidae)
Genus – Spectacled penguins (Spheniscus)
In addition to the South African penguin, taxonomists include the Humboldt penguin in the genus Spectacled penguin. (Spheniscus humboldti), Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus) and the Galapagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus).
In literature African penguin usually called by belonging to the genus - spectacled.
Conservation status
The number of African penguins declined sharply at the beginning of the twentieth century due to human development of nesting habitats, oil pollution of coastal waters and a number of other reasons also related to human activities. So, if by the beginning of the 19th century the number of this species was estimated at 4 million individuals, then by the end of the 20th century only 10% remained. Thus, the number of African penguins has fallen tens of times and now, according to various estimates, ranges from 50,000 to 170,000 individuals. Currently, this penguin is listed in the Red Book of South Africa and the International Red Book in the group of endangered species - IUCN (EN).
Species and man
All the reasons that caused such a sharp decline in the number of African penguins are related to human activities. This includes unlimited collection of eggs (banned only in 1969), and an oil spill off the coast. South Africa, and overfishing of small fish that penguins feed on, and human development of the nesting habitats of these birds. Currently, the spectacled penguin is under strict protection; National parks or simply protected areas have been created in its nesting areas. Visits by tourists to these places, if allowed, are subject to strict rules. Visitors walk on specially laid wooden walkways raised above the ground; approaching, touching and feeding the birds is strictly prohibited. In this mode, penguins react completely calmly to the presence of people. In addition, special nesting houses are built for penguins nesting on the sandy shore. Now there is hope that the spectacled penguin can be saved from complete extinction.
Currently, the spectacled penguin is under strict protection; National parks or simply protected areas have been created in its nesting areas. Tourists visiting these places, if allowed, does so under strict rules. Visitors walk on specially laid wooden walkways raised above the ground; approaching, touching and feeding the birds is strictly prohibited. In this mode, penguins react completely calmly to the presence of people. In addition, special nesting houses are built for penguins nesting on the sandy shore. Now there is hope that the spectacled penguin can be saved from complete extinction.
Distribution and habitats
The spectacled penguin nests on the southern and southwestern coasts of Africa, washed by the cold Bengal Current. For nesting colonies it chooses rocky areas of the coast, but can also nest on sandy shores. IN national parks people put up special shelter houses for them.
Appearance and color
The coloring of the spectacled penguin is typical of all penguins - black back, white chest and belly. It got its name from the peculiar pattern on its head. There is a narrow black stripe in the shape of a horseshoe on the chest down to the paws. The beak and legs are black. The height of the spectacled penguin reaches 65-70 cm, body weight up to 4 kg. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Lifestyle and social behavior
Spectacled penguins spend most of the year at sea, but at the beginning of the breeding season they swim to the islands or parts of the coast of South Africa. However, during migrations they do not swim far from the shore, so they are classified as sedentary species. Like all penguins, they feel light and free in the water. They can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h, dive to depths of up to 100 m, and hold their breath for 2-3 minutes. During the hunt they can swim 70-120 km. Special organs on the head (pink “eyebrows” above the eyes) help these penguins maintain the required body temperature. The higher the bird's body temperature, the more blood is directed to these organs. And thanks to them thin skin the blood in them is quickly cooled by the surrounding air. During molting, penguins do not dive into water and lose the opportunity to feed. They spend about 20 days on land without feeding. Spectacled penguins have many enemies, both in the water and on the shore. The main enemy, of course, is humans, and in both penguin habitats (bird catching, egg collection, environmental pollution, etc.). In the water, penguins are hunted by sharks and, less commonly, seals. With the latter, spectacled penguins also compete on land for rookery sites and nesting colonies, and in water for food. Large seagulls and, in some places, feral cats pose a danger to chicks and eggs on land.
Nutrition and feeding behavior
Spectacled penguins feed on small schooling fish (fry of herring, anchovies, sardines); They eat about 500 g of fish per day. Human overfishing off the coast of Africa is one of the reasons for the decline in the number of this penguin species.
Reproduction and parental behavior
The breeding season of the spectacled penguin is not clearly defined and varies depending on location. Thus, in the north-west of the range, the peak of incubation occurs in November-January, in the south-west - in May-July, in the east - in April-June.
Spectacled penguins are monogamous, with 80-90% of pairs remaining together for the next breeding season, with each pair returning to the same colony and nest. There are cases where permanent couples have been preserved for 10 years.
Spectacled penguins nest in colonies. The nest is made in a hole or crevice in the rock and is lined with pebbles, twigs and pieces of guano, which the penguins collect near the nest. By the way, guano helps maintain the required temperature in the nest. There are 2 eggs in a clutch, 3-4 times larger than chicken eggs. Both parents incubate alternately for 40 days. The change of partners on the nest occurs on average after 2.5 days.
The hatched chicks are first covered with brownish-gray down, and later with a bluish tint. Feeding the chicks lasts about 80 days. For the first 15 days after hatching, one of the parents is constantly near the chicks, warming them until thermoregulation is established, and protecting them from predators. Protection of the chicks by one of the parents lasts about a month, after which both parents go to feed, and the young remain in the collective " kindergarten" At the age of 60-130 days, they leave the colony and go to sea, where they spend 12-22 months, after which they return to their native colony and molt into adult plumage. Typically, no more than 40% of spectacled penguin chicks survive.
Females become sexually mature at the age of 4-5 years.
Lifespan
The lifespan of spectacled penguins in the wild is 10-12 years.
Life at the Moscow Zoo
In our zoo, spectacled penguins live peacefully in the same enclosure with Humboldt penguins in the Bird House on Old territory. Now a family lives here - two parents and 2 chicks born in the zoo. In terms of lifestyle, habits, living conditions and attitude towards people, these penguins are no different from Humboldt penguins.
They are fed daily small fish(fish carcass size 15-20 cm) in the amount of 1.5 kg, as well as shrimp and squid, about 2 kg in total.