What is a Penguin doing on Galapagos :)
Galapagos penguins are the smallest penguins in the world. These Galapagos Penguins are unique, as they are the only penguins living and breeding on the equator. The Galapagos penguin must have followed the cold Humboldt current to reach warm Galapagos.
Snorkel with Galapagos Penguins
If you love both penguins and snorkeling, then Galapagos is the ideal place to come up and close with the Galapagos penguins. Don’t be surprised if the Galapagos penguin starts "chasing" you when snorkeling in stead you chasing him!
What makes a Galapagos Penguin standing out?
As with all penguins, they don’t fly in the air, but they use the flying movement under water, to swim around in the warm waters of Galapagos looking for fish.
But they stand out by standing, or more precisely by walking. On land, Galapagos penguins walk more upright than other birds. This is because the legs of the Galapagos Penguin are placed more backwards. Penguins also move by hopping around with both feet, next time you visit Galapagos, have a look at the Galapagos penguins hopping outside the waves onto a rock. Quite amazing skills!
What is most unusual but understandable is the breeding of the Galapagos penguin. Unlike the penguins in colder areas that need to follow the seasons, Galapagos penguins can breed to up to 3 times a year. 2 eggs are laid and both parent Galapagos penguins share in the incubation. Yet only one of the young penguins will usually make it into an adult Galapagos penguin.
