The African penguin has black and white
stripes on its head and breast.
Photograph by Peter
Pickford
The African Penguin is also known as the Jackass
Penguin or the Black-footed Penguin. It got its name the Jackass
from the sound it makes, it sounds like a donkey or Jackass. The
African Penguin digs its nest in grassy banks. It is about
60 cm tall and is found along the coast of South Africa. When they
moult they cannot swim so they cannot eat. They live on their own
body fat. African Penguins have a hook on the top part of their beak.
If they bite your finger it will rip to the bone. In the water a
penguin can swim up to 25 km per hour. The African Penguin swims
to all the small islands along the coast.
Photograph by Claudio
Velasquez
A Jackass penguin on the beach
Written by: Nicola, Georgina
and Morgan
Photography by Peter Pickford
and Claudio Velasquez
Information:
Irene, a volunteer guide at
Simons Town Museum, Cape Town
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