The African Penguin is also known as the Jackass Penguin due to their donkey-like bray. This penguin from the cooler waters is the only species that breeds on the African continent.
 
These flightless birds waddle and hop clumsily over boulders on the beach until they reach the water where they suddenly transform into streamlined and agile swimmers able to reach speeds of up to 20 kilometres per hour. They can stay submerged for as long as two minutes, as they dart around looking for small fish to eat.
 
The black and white colouration did not develop by accident. It is known as counter-shading with the white on the underside blending in with the water surface when seen from below, and the black on the back helping to camouflage the birds when seen from above.
 
The small tightly packed feathers help to insulate them from the cold water. The harsh conditions take their toll, and these feathers deteriorate over time. Each year, during a process known as moulting, penguins lose these feathers and allow their bodies to generate a new set. As they cannot swim without their insulating feathers, they do not feed during the three week moulting period. Once the new feathers have grown out, the hungry birds head out to sea to gorge themselves on shoaling fish such as sardines and anchovy, which they swallow whole.