Spheniscus

Spheniscus is a genus of penguins in the family Spheniscidae, commonly referred to as the banded penguins. Members are medium-sized penguins found in the Southern Hemisphere, with three species along the coasts of South America and the Galápagos Islands and one along the southwestern coast of Africa. The genus includes four living species: the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) on the coast of southwestern Africa; the Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) along the coasts of Peru and Chile; the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) across southern South America; and the Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) on the Galápagos Islands.

Physical characteristics are typical of penguins, with a black upper body and white underparts. In Spheniscus, a distinctive white facial stripe and a white band across the chest give the group its banded appearance. They are generally smaller than some other penguin genera and display a robust, upright posture.

Spheniscus species are highly colonial during the breeding season. They nest in burrows, crevices, or under rock ledges and typically lay two eggs, with both parents participating in incubation and chick-rearing. Diet consists mainly of small schooling fish and, to a lesser extent, squid. Foraging trips can be short or extended, depending on the availability of prey and season.

Conservation status varies by species, with several threatened by habitat loss, climate variability, overfishing of prey, and introduced predators. Protected areas, fisheries management, and conservation programs are among the measures used to support populations.