Habitat:
Hot sandy areas near the ocean
When you picture penguins, you imagine snow and ice, not sandy beaches, right? That is almost always the case! However, the pint-sized African penguin Spheniscus demersus is one of the few penguin species that is not found in a cold environment. They live in the warm coastal areas of southern Africa and on some surrounding islands. One of the African penguin's most distinctive features is a small pink gland above each eye, which helps them cope with high temperatures in South Africa. The hotter the penguin gets, the more blood is sent to these glands where it is cooled by the surrounding air, and keeps the animal cooler. The glands have a pinker appearance the hotter it gets.
Black and white and cute all over
While the African penguin may not be found in freezing temperatures, they are covered in an array of black, white, and gray dense, waterproof feathers that keep them dry and warm in the cold waters off the African coast. They also have a number of dot-like markings flecked across their white chests. These flecks help to individualize each penguin, as each penguin's feather pattern is as individual as a human's fingerprints. The animal has a distinct sharply pointed beak and black feet. The African penguin is one of the smallest species. Males are generally slightly larger than their female counterparts.
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