GALAPAGOS PENGUIN (Spheniscus mendiculus)

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Description: Penguins are flightless seabirds that live in the Southern Hemisphere. Most species prefer the frigid waters of Antarctica, but Galapagos penguins live very near the equator in the Galapagos Islands off the coast of South America. There, cold currents from Antarctica lower the temperature of the water in this tropical zone. Populations of the Galapagos penguin have declined dramatically in recent years, possibly due to changes in the marine environment.

IUCN Status: Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Climatic changes and human disturbance
Habitat: Sandy shores, rocky beaches and coastal waters
Location: Galapagos Islands
Diet: Small fish and a variety of marine invertebrates