Galapagos Penguin Photo by Ann Doty

Galapagos Penguin

Spheniscus mendiculus

Adult

©Ann Doty

Location: Ecuador > Galápagos
Date: Jun 24, 2019
Caption: #photocontest2019

Isabela--Tagus Cove; Galapagos Ecuador
with VENT tour guide Michael O'Brien

The most northerly member of its family, the Galapagos Penguin is endemic to the Galapagos archipelago, 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador. With a distribution that virtually straddles the equator, the Galapagos Penguin is able to survive at such a tropical latitude due to the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Cromwell and Humboldt currents. Galapagos Penguins breed in loose colonies in the cracks and caves of the islands’ lava flows and feed close offshore on pelagic schooling fish, especially mullet.