Everyone knows that penguins live in the coldest parts of the globe. Do you know that they also exist on the equator? Yes, yes, on the equator there also live these amazing birds, namely the Galapagos Islands. They are called according to their habitat – the Galapagos penguins. This species has no more than two thousand individuals, and this is the smallest species of the family of penguins.
The hot and dry climate of these latitudes has significantly influenced the size, abundance and lifestyle of these Galapagos penguins – this is what distinguishes them from penguins who live in cold climates. Due to the high temperatures (above 38 ° C) that prevail on the islands, the Galapagos penguins are threatened with overheating, which poses a serious danger for them.
But not for nothing that these birds most resemble a person, they, like a person – are very clever and have found a way out of difficult housing conditions. In the afternoon, when the temperature reaches the highest point, they are in the water, getting their food, and at night when the temperature falls, they go ashore. Due to severe climatic conditions, the population of the Galapagos penguins decreases year by year. To date, these animals are listed in the international Red Book.
If the Galapagos penguins began to molt, the breeding season will soon begin. Typically, married couples penguin lay two eggs, and the second is postponed four days after the first. And here is another difference of this species from those who live in cold latitudes, in the incubation and upbringing of the offspring participate both parents. Two months later the chicks leave their native nests and begin an independent life.
