The banded penguins are the penguins of the Spheniscus ("wedge-shaped") genus.^{[citation needed]} There are four living species of penguins known as banded penguins, and all have similar coloration. They are sometimes also known as "Jack-ass penguins" due to their loud locator calls sounding similar to a donkey braying. Common traits include a band of black that runs around their bodies bordering their black dorsal coloring, black beaks with a small vertical white band, distinct spots on their bellies, and a small patch of unfeathered or thinly feathered skin around their eyes that can be either white or pink. All members of this genus lay their eggs and raise their young in burrows.^[1]

Ranges

The African, Humboldt, and Magellanic species all live in more temperate climates such as South Africa and the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina while the Galápagos Penguin is native to the Galapagos Islands, making it the most northerly of all penguin species. The banded penguins are not (and apparently never were^{[citation needed]}) Antarctic.

Species

Extant

The four extant (living) species of banded penguins (Spheniscus) are:

Image	Common name	Binomial name
	Magellanic Penguin	Spheniscus magellanicus
	Humboldt Penguin	Spheniscus humboldti
	Galápagos Penguin	Spheniscus mendiculus
	African Penguin, Black-footed or Jackass Penguin	Spheniscus demersus

Fossil

Fossil Spheniscus sp.

Several extinct species are known from prehistoric fossils:

• Spheniscus muizoni (Pisco Middle/Late Miocene of Cerro La Bruja, Peru)
• Spheniscus chilensis (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of C Andean coast)
• Spheniscus megaramphus (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of C Andean coast)
• Spheniscus urbinai (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of C Andean coast)

The former Spheniscus predemersus is now placed in a monotypic genus Inguza.

References