Galapagos Penguin - Endangered Species

Galapagos penguins are the rarest and most endangered penguin species in the world and the only one that can be found at the equator.

Unlike most cold water penguins, they have several adaptations that allow them to tolerate the warmer climate of Galapagos, with their ability to pant like a dog being one them.

They also have less body fat and fewer feathers than cold-weather penguins allowing them to lose body heat more efficiently. Their smaller size also means they don't need to eat as much to survive

One of the reasons for their endangered status is that limited options for nest sites exist in the Islands.

Many nests used 40 years ago either no longer exist, are used by marine iguanas, or now get flooded.

The WWF lists the Galapagos penguin as endangered with only 2,000 thought to exist in the wild.