Their call resembles a donkey's bray, hence their alternative name of jackass penguins.

Statistics
Height: 68cm (26.5in), Weight: 3.5kg (7lb).

Physical description
African penguins have a black back and a white belly. They have white markings running from the top of the forehead round to under the chin, and from the chin down to the feet. They have red to black bare patches on the chin and in front of the eyes.

Distribution
African penguins are found around the South African coast.

Diet
African penguins mainly feed on fish, but they will also eat squid and crustaceans.

Reproduction
African penguins live in colonies. They nest in burrows, usually laying two eggs, although it is not common for both of the chicks to survive.

Conservation status
There are estimated to be 170,000 pairs of African penguin. They are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List, and they are threatened by oil pollution, reduction of food supply due to overfishing, egg collection and competition for breeding space with seals. The South African conservationists are very successful in cleaning and releasing penguins that get oiled, and they have a very good survival rate.