Humboldt Penguin

Photo: Bruna · CC BY-NC

Humboldt penguins nest in rock crevices on the Ballestas Islands and are astonishing underwater, reaching speeds of 30 kilometres per hour and executing tight turns that leave divers struggling to track them. These endangered penguins feed heavily on anchoveta and squid in the cold Humboldt Current waters, and their abundance here is directly dependent on La Nina cycles that cool the water and concentrate prey. Unlike their Antarctic relatives, Humboldt penguins have adapted to temperate water temperatures and can be encountered at depths of up to 15 metres during active feeding dives.