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  Profile

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  In flight

Penguins

Galápagos Penguin

Spheniscus mendiculus

• rare
• 16 km/h
• Endangered

The only penguin that ranges into the Northern Hemisphere. Some colonies sit just above the equator on Isabela Island.

Population

~1,200 mature individuals (2024 estimate; historical 1993-2003 mean was ~1,500)

Habitat

Rocky, volcanic coastlines with caves, crevices, and tidal pools for shade and nesting, adjacent to cold, nutrient-rich waters (Cromwell and Humboldt Current upwellings)

Fun fact

The Galápagos Penguin is the only penguin species found in the Northern Hemisphere, and it molts twice a year (before each of its two breeding attempts) rather than once annually like most other penguins.

Range

Endemic to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; roughly 90% of the population is concentrated on Fernandina and western Isabela Islands, with small numbers on Santiago, Bartolomé, northern Santa Cruz, and Floreana — the only penguin species found north of the Equator

Diet

Small schooling fish such as mullet, sardines, pilchards, and anchovies; occasionally crustaceans

Size

0.49 m

Lifespan

20 years