Genus Spheniscus
African Penguin
ケープペンギン Spheniscus demersus
About
A medium-sized black-and-white penguin 60–70 cm long. Its broad black breast band and black-and-white face pattern are diagnostic, and the whitish bare skin above the eye turns bright pinkish-red in very hot conditions. It breeds year round; nests were once dug in guano or sand, but open sites and artificial burrows are now increasingly used.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Spheniscus demersus
- Also known as
- Cape Penguin, Jackass Penguin
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Critically Endangered (CR) — assessed 2024
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Population
- About 9,900 pairs (about 19,800 mature individuals) (as of 2023)
- Length
- about 60–70 cm
- Range
- Endemic to southern Africa, breeding at 26 localities on islands and the mainland coast of Namibia and South Africa.
Where to see the African Penguin in Japan
Adventure World
Wakayama Shirahama
10 penguin species
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Kanagawa Yokohama
5 penguin species
Kobe Animal Kingdom
Hyogo Chuo-ku, Kobe
1 penguin species
Kyoto Aquarium
Kyoto
1 penguin species
Marine World Uminonakamichi
Fukuoka Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
1 penguin species
Matsue Vogel Park
Shimane Matsue
1 penguin species
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
Nagasaki
9 penguin species
Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE
Hokkaido Noboribetsu
3 penguin species
Sendai Uminomori Aquarium
Miyagi Miyagino-ku, Sendai
5 penguin species
Sunshine Aquarium
Tokyo Toshima
1 penguin species
Ueno Zoo
Tokyo Taito
1 penguin species
FAQ
- Where can I see the African Penguin in Japan?
- At 11 places listed on PenguinSpot: Adventure World, Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Kobe Animal Kingdom, Kyoto Aquarium, Marine World Uminonakamichi, Matsue Vogel Park, Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium, Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE, Sendai Uminomori Aquarium, Sunshine Aquarium, Ueno Zoo.
- Is the African Penguin endangered?
- Yes. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Critically Endangered (CR), assessed in 2024.
Sources
We checked the sources below on October 21, 2026.