All items sold on this website are polyurethane resin replicas, made in USA. No real or natural bone is available on this site.
S. demersus Skeleton Replica or African Penguin measures 18 inches. African Penguin Skeleton Model is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. S. demersus Skeleton Replica for scientific educational, museum exhibits, home décor, or office décor.
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters.
The S. demersus or African penguin is only found on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa and its presence gave name to the Penguin Islands.
Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on the mainland near Cape Town, namely Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town and Stony Point in Betty’s Bay.
Mainland colonies likely became possible only in recent times due to the reduction of predator numbers, although the Betty’s Bay colony has been attacked by leopards. The only other mainland colony is in Namibia, but it is not known when it was established.
Boulders Beach is a tourist attraction due to the beach, swimming and the penguins. The penguins will allow people to approach them as close as a meter.
Breeding populations of S. demersus or African penguins are being kept in numerous zoos worldwide. No colonies are known outside the southwestern coast of Africa, although vagrants (mostly juveniles) may occasionally be sighted beyond the normal range.
Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Adults weigh an average of 4.9–7.7 lb and are 24–28 in. tall.
The species has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. The body’s upper parts are black and sharply delineated from the white underparts, which are spotted and marked with a black band.
The S. demersus or African penguin is a pursuit diver and feeds primarily on fish and squid.
Once extremely numerous, the African penguin is declining rapidly due to a combination of several threats and is classified as endangered. It is a charismatic species and is popular with tourists.
