Spheniscus humboldti

Humboldt Penguin

FWS Focus

Overview

The Humboldt penguin is endemic to the west coast of South America from Foca Island (5[deg]12'0''S) in northern Peru to the Pinihuil Islands near Chiloe, Chile (42[deg]S) (Araya et al. 2000, p. 1). It is a congener of the African penguin and has similar life history and ecological traits. Humboldt penguins historically bred on guano islands off the coast of Peru and Chile (Araya et al. 2000, p.1). Prior to human mining of guano for fertilizer, the Humboldt penguin's primary nesting habitat was in burrows, tunneled into the deep guano substrate on offshore islands. While the guano is produced primarily by three other species (the Guanay cormorant (Phalacrocorax bouganvillii), the Peruvian booby (Sula variegate), and Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus)), Humboldt penguins depended on these burrows for shelter from the heat and from predators. With the intensive harvest of guano over the last century and a half in both countries, Humboldt penguins are forced to nest out in the open or seek shelter in caves or under vegetation (Paredes and Zavalga 2001, pp. 199-205).

Scientific Name

Spheniscus humboldti
Common Name
Humboldt Penguin
FWS Category
Birds
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

4 Items

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

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Listing

Jul 11, 2007

Jul 11, 2007 Listing (Substantial)
90-Day Finding on a Petition to List 12 Penguin Species as Threatened or Endangered under the Endang…
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 1

Listing

Dec 18, 2008

Dec 18, 2008 Listing (Threatened)
12-Month Finding on a Petition to List Five Penguin Species Under the Endangered Species Act, and Pr…
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 2

Listing

Dec 18, 2008

Dec 18, 2008 Listing (Warranted)
12-Month Finding on a Petition to List Five Penguin Species Under the Endangered Species Act, and Pr…
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 3

Listing

Aug 3, 2010

Aug 3, 2010 Listing (Threatened)
Determination of Threatened Status for Five Penguin Species;The yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes anti…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 4