The Galapagos Penguin A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

Map of penguins of the world A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

You will be used to seeing penguins in the cold and snow. So how can the Galapagos penguin survive living on the Equator where weather conditions are much hotter, and it never snows? There is a cool ocean current called the Humboldt current that brings nutrient rich waters to the Galapagos, enabling the penguins to feed on the variety of fish and squid that they need. The Humboldt current comes from Antarctica. Another current, called the Cromwell current also brings nutrient rich water to the Galapagos. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

What physical adaptations does the Galapagos penguin have to keep cool? The penguins have more skin exposed on parts of their feet than other species of penguin. This allows them to lose more heat from their bodies. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

What physical adaptations does the Galapagos penguin have to keep cool? They also moult twice a year to replace feathers that have been damaged by the sun. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

What behavioural adaptations do penguins have to keep cool? They will often stand with their black backs away from the sun, as black absorbs heat and they can easily get too hot. They will also seek shelter in the rock crevices, away from the harsh equatorial sun. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

What behavioural adaptations do penguins have to keep cool? As they cannot sweat, they pant to cool down. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

What behavioural adaptations do penguins have to keep cool? They spend a significant amount of time in the cool waters. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

How are the young protected from the sun and predators? Galapagos penguins make their nests in crevices or cavities in the hard lava that lines the shores. This type of nesting is called ‘Cavity Nesting.’ As well as being sheltered from the sun, they are also protected from predators such as the Galapagos hawk and owl. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

What threats do the penguins face? Increased frequency of a weather phenomenon called El Niño is the most serious threat to the Galapagos penguin. During this event, the cooler waters that flow to the islands get replaced by warmer waters. Marine species thrive in cooler water, but when the water warms up their numbers decline quickly. This means it is hard for the penguins to find food, and they can starve. A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UK

A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO ) GALAPAGOSCONSERVATION.ORG.UKPE N G U I N