African Penguin

Spheniscus demersus (Linnaeus 1758)

David Remsen cc-by-nc-4.0

Spheniscus demersus (African Penguin) is a species of birds in the family penguins. They are listed as endangered by IUCN and in cites appendix ii. They are native to Ethiopia. They are diurnal carnivores. They have parental care (paternal care, pair provides care, and female provides care). They rely on swimming, flight, and lift powered swimming to move around.

URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/endangered
Definition: A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the \r\ncriteria A to E for Endangered, and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Source: http://apiv3.iucnredlist.org/api/v3/taxonredirect/22697810

show all records

URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/CITES_II
Definition: Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. It also includes so-called "look-alike species", i.e. species whose specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons. International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES (although a permit is needed in some countries that have taken stricter measures than CITES requires). Permits or certificates should only be granted if the relevant authorities are satisfied that certain conditions are met, above all that trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. (See Article IV of the Convention)
Source: https://www.speciesplus.net/#/taxon_concepts/11043/legal

show all records

URI: http://www.geonames.org/337996

show all records

URI: https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q81875
Definition: organism that eats mostly or exclusively animal tissue
Attribution: Crustacean body sizes

show all records

URI: http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q906470
Definition: animal behavior characterized by activity during the day, with a period of inactivity at night.

show all records

URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/paternalCare

show all records

URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/parentalCarePair
Definition: Both parents feed and nurture offspring.
Attribution: Richard M. Sibly, Christopher C. Witt, Natalie A. Wright, Chris Venditti, Walter Jetz, and James H. Brown. 2012. Energetics, lifestyle, and reproduction in birds. PNAS 109(27):10937-10941, doi:10.1073/pnas.1206512109

show all records

URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/parentalCareFemale
Definition: the female feeds and nurtures offspring
Attribution: Richard M. Sibly, Christopher C. Witt, Natalie A. Wright, Chris Venditti, Walter Jetz, and James H. Brown. 2012. Energetics, lifestyle, and reproduction in birds. PNAS 109(27):10937-10941, doi:10.1073/pnas.1206512109

show all records

URI: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GO_0036268
Definition: Self-propelled movement of an organism from one location to another through water, often by means of active fin movement.

show all records

URI: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/NBO_0000367
Definition: self-propelled movement of an organism from one location to another through the air, usually by means of active wing movement

show all records

URI: https://eol.org/schema/terms/lift_based_swimming
Definition: Hydrofoils, or fins, are used to push against the water to create a normal force to provide thrust, propelling the animal through water. The reduction of fin cross-sectional area helps to minimize drag, and therefore increase efficiency. Regardless of size of the animal, at any particular speed, maximum possible lift is proportional to (wing area) x (speed)<sup>2</sup>. Dolphins and whales have large, horizontal caudal hydrofoils, while many fish and sharks have vertical caudal hydrofoils.

show all records

EOL has data for 39 attributes, including:

bill length
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/BillLength
- Definition: Length of the bill.
show all records
55.5 mm
body shape
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/BodyShape
show all records
bilaterally symmetric
- URI: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/PATO_0001324
- Definition: being symmetric about a plane running from frontal end to caudal end (head to tail), and having nearly identical right and left halves
show all records
diet includes
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/Diet
- Definition: Information about the items eaten by this organism.
show all records
fish
- URI: https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q152
- Definition: vertebrate animal that lives in water and (typically) has gills
show all records
ecomorphological guild
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/EcomorphologicalGuild
- Definition: organisms that share certain morphological traits due to adaptation to similar environments and ecological roles
show all records
nectonic
- URI: http://www.marinespecies.org/traits/Nekton
- Definition: Active swimming organisms that live in the water column and are able to move independently of the water mass (adapted from Lincoln et al., 1998).
- Attribution: http://www.marinespecies.org/traits/wiki/Traits:Nekton
show all records
foraging habitat
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/ForagingHabitat
- Definition: Primary habitat where the species forages during the breeding season.
- Attribution: Richard M. Sibly, Christopher C. Witt, Natalie A. Wright, Chris Venditti, Walter Jetz, and James H. Brown. 2012. Energetics, lifestyle, and reproduction in birds. PNAS 109(27):10937-10941, doi:10.1073/pnas.1206512109
show all records
marine pelagic
- URI: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_01000023
- Definition: The marine pelagic biome (pelagic meaning open sea) is that of the marine water column, from the surface to the greatest depths.
show all records
geographic distribution includes
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/Present
- Definition: This organism is known to be present in this location or region. Not exclusive; other regions may also be reported.
show all records
South Africa
- URI: http://www.geonames.org/953987
show all records
mating system
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/MatingSystem
show all records
monogamous
- URI: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ECOCORE_00000063
- Definition: One male and one female have an exclusive mating relationship
show all records
native range includes
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/NativeRange
- Definition: Lists jurisdictions in which a given organism is a member of the undisturbed fauna or flora.
show all records
Ethiopia
- URI: http://www.geonames.org/337996
show all records
population trend
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/population_trend
- Definition: i.e., increasing, decreasing, stable, or unknown
show all records
Decreasing
social system
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/SocialSystem
- Definition: Description of the relationships among individuals within a population of organisms, including reproductive relationships (mating system), relationships within each sex, adult – young interactions, helpers and cooperation (group living).
show all records
group living
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/socialGroupLiving
- Definition: where individuals of the same species (conspecifics), maintain spatial proximity with one another over time with mechanisms of social attraction
- Attribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_living
show all records
temperature at range midpoint latitude
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/TemperatureAtRangeMidpointLatitude
- Definition: The temperature at the range midpoint latitude of an organism.
show all records
27.25 degrees celsius
trophic guild
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/TrophicGuild
- Definition: A group of species that exploit the same food resources, and/or use the same feeding or foraging methods. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild_(ecology)
show all records
vertivore
- URI: http://eol.org/schema/terms/vertivore
- Definition: carnivorous animal which eats primarily vertebrates
show all records

Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of African penguin. View this species on GBIF

David Remsen cc-by-nc-4.0