Think of penguins, and it’s impossible to not picture them sliding on ice caps, glaciers and other geological features synonymous with their most known habitat, Antarctica. While it’s true that the continent and its surroundings hosts seven species of penguins, including the emperors or the Adélies, 11 of the other penguins of the world are actually found outside this region.
They’re found in many parts of the world, including warmer parts near the equator. Here are four penguin species that go to show just how adaptable these remarkable birds are.
1. Humboldt Penguin—Found In The Atacama Desert
About 700 miles long, the Atacama Desert features sand dunes and low, coastal mountains of dry rock that descend into salt flats. It is also the driest place on the planet.
In this harsh landscape, only the most enduring fauna thrive. An unexpected inhabitant of this region is the Humboldt penguin, or Spheniscus humboldti.
Humboldt penguins nest in the thousands along rocky ledges and in caves along the desert coast. They also occupy holes burrowed into “guano” (excreta and remains of animals that have accumulated on the ground as fertilizer and help insulate nests).
The penguins are able to survive here thanks to the Humboldt current, as it cools these coastal waters by several degrees compared to other ocean waters at the same latitude. This current brings glacial waters from the south pole to South America.
2. Magellanic Penguins—Found In Punta Tombo, Argentina
Punta Tombo is a natural reserve on a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Argentina. With wide beaches at the shore and scrublands inland, the largest colony of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are found here—there are around 400,000 breeding adults. This species also breeds in the Atacama and other parts of Chile and Argentina.
From the shores, the penguins dive into the water to hunt for squid, crustaceans and small fish. Penguins have spiky tongues that help them grip slippery fish, and though—like all penguins—their motor skills aren’t impressive on land, they are agile swimmers.
Though native to Argentina and Chile, these penguins migrate in search of food during the winter, as far as northern Brazil. In some exceptional cases, some individuals were even spotted in parts of Central America, Australia and New Zealand.
3. Galápagos Penguin—Found In The Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos penguin, or Spheniscus mendiculus, is the only penguin found close to the equator, and is endemic to this archipelago. It is the most northerly occurring penguin, and also benefits from the cold waters of the Humboldt current that bring cold-water-dwelling prey like anchovies.
Out of about a dozen islands in the archipelago, four are occupied by humans. Mangroves, active volcanos, freshwater lakes, lava tunnels and lush forests coexist along with farming and fishing communities.
Aside from their natural predators like sharks and sea lions, these penguins are prey to the many domestic cats and rodents that have populated the islands. Waves of plastic pollution washed out from across the world choke the shores and restrict the movements of the penguins.
Spheniscus mendiculus has evolved ways to stay cool in the tropical islands. Its feathers are less dense and structured in different ways than those of its Antarctic counterparts. It also pants in the heat like dogs do, as a way to release body heat.
4. African Penguin—Found In The Southern Coast Of Africa
Along the southern coast of Namibia and South Africa, a penguin species is notable for being relatively tame, allowing close approaches by humans. The African penguin, or Spheniscus demersus, brays like a donkey and has earned the nickname jackass penguin.
It’s the only penguin species on the continent, residing on 24 islands between the two countries. These islands are largely free of land predators, which may explain their lack of fear of humans. A decline of predators on the mainland led to the establishment of two colonies near Cape Town in the 1980s.
However, they aren’t so safe in the waters, where they may fall prey to sharks, seals and killer whales. One of the first predators newborn chicks must learn to evade are the gulls that circle overhead.
From an estimated four million African penguins at the beginning of the 19th century, their population has plummeted by over 95%. Today, tourists flock to southern Africa in hopes of sighting these remarkable birds in the wild.