African Penguin and penguin chick The main predators of the little penguins are feral cats, mongoose and genets, rarely even leopards. Why are Penguins Important? They are important players in the balance of the ecosystem. Who Knew? They can dive under water for up to 2.5 minutes while trying to catch small fish such as anchovies and sardines. The penguins who call chilly Antarctica home may be the most well known of the species, but did you know that Southern Africa has its own penguins? African penguins live in colonies on the coast and islands of southern Africa. These vocalizations allow them to identify their mate, to communicate with offspring, and to warn of any dangers. African Penguins - Spheniscus demersus: Penguins and Penguin Conservation. April 25, 2016. Marine animals preying on these flightless birds are Cape fur seals, which we witnessed from the beach too, and occasionally sharks and whales further at sea. However, the African Penguin is one of the few that makes a sound similar to that of a donkey braying. African Penguin Behavior. The juvenile plumage starts developing between 70-80 days. They make plenty of vocal sounds like other species of penguins. The molting process of the African penguin is very important to its survival. They are important players in the balance of the ecosystem. When you think of penguins, African penguins might not be the image that pops into your head. Penguins are a family of 17 to 19 species of birds that live primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is the only penguin species to naturally occur on the African continent. This type of penguin species is a bit larger in size than the most common Adelie penguin. Most African penguins are about 40 inches tall and about 4.5 kg in weight. They help control populations of small fish species and provide food for larger predators. There are only 17 species of penguin worldwide and five of them are endangered. By Alexis Croswell. * On the inside, if the penguin swallows oil whilst preening (cleaning itself), the penguin gets poisoned. They make plenty of vocal sounds like other species of penguins. The penguins are now endangered and charities like the Dyer Island Conservation Trust are building artificial nest boxes for them to try and save them from extinction in the wild. BY PRICE . They include the tiny blue penguins of Australia and New Zealand, the majestic emperor penguins of Antarctica and king penguins found on many sub- Antarctic islands, the endangered African penguin and the Galápagos penguin—the only penguin to be found north of the equator. African penguins adapt well in captivity because their warm environment is easy to recreate in zoos, which is the reason they are one of the most conserved penguins in these parks. Although they are significantly larger than Adelie penguins, African penguins are still only medium sized species. During a period of approximately 18 days it will not be waterproof and insulated enough to forage for food.