~The Magellanic Penguin~

As promised, MUCH later in the day. My first Creature Report!
I decided to blog about one of my favorite animals first; The Penguin!

To be specific I chose the Magellanic Penguin. It's scientific name is Spheniscus magellanicus.

An adult can grow up to 30 inches tall and will weigh in at about 13 pounds.

In the wild, they can live to about 25 years old, but in captivity, about 30 years old.

Magellanic penguins live at the bottom of South America in Patagonia, Argentina, The Falkland Islands and Chile.

In September, adults arrive at nesting sites to breed. In October, they then burrow to make their nests and begin their egg laying.

The female usually lays two eggs and might raise both babies. But sometimes only one baby penguin will hatch and survive. The baby usually hatches after 42 days.

When the baby hatches, it will remain in the burrow for about 5 more weeks. Mom and dad take turns caring for the baby in 10 - 15 day rotations.

After 30 days of being cared for, the baby will begin to moult and get its adult plumage (feathers).

When they are about 60 - 70 days old, the baby Magellanic penguin will begin to hunt on its own.

Magellanic penguins feed on cuttlefish, krill, sardines and squid and mostly hunt in groups.

Their predators are sea lions, leopard seals and orca. But chicks need to be wary of kelp gulls and giant petrel

They are not endangered, but they are Near Threatened. Over fishing by humans depletes their food supply and they get tangled in fish nets. Oil pollution is also a threat to them.

FUN FACTS!

1. Magellanic Penguins can swim up to 15 mph
2. They sexually mature at about 2 - 3 years of age
3. They are named after Ferdinand Magellan when he saw them on his first journey in 1519

( DISCLAIMER: I found all the pictures thru google images. None of them belong to me. Credit goes to their respective owners.)

Thanks for reading my first Sea Creature Report!
If possible, please read my other blog at bluemenpachi.blogspot.com

Much Mahaloz,
Seajelly Princess