Galapágos penguins perch on a rocky cove 28 Mar 2017
About this photo
Galapágos penguins are no exception to Darwin's theory of evolution, which he discovered through studies of flora and fauna on the Galapágos Islands. These penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) are the only penguins that live wild north of the equator, on Isabela Island; their mixture of dark and light feathers protects them from the harsh sunlight.
Like many other penguin species, Galapágos penguins mate for life, creating nests no more than 50-metres from the sea, hiding them from sun rays in caves and under rocks. One or two eggs are laid and protected constantly by mother or father for the 38-40 day incubation period. Tour this wildlife-rich archipelago and spot the variety of adapted species that inhabit the islands on any of Insight Guides’ trips to the Galapágos Islands.