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Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2022; 239(01): 94-98
DOI: 10.1055/a-1388-3960
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The Eyes of an African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus): General Morphology and Ophthalmopathology

Augen eines Brillenpinguins (Spheniscus demersus): allgemeine Morphologie und Ophthalmopathologie
Ekaterina Sokolenko 
1   Clinic for Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
Gero Hilken
2   Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
,
Nora Denk
3   Zoo Basel AG, Basel, Switzerland
,
Fabia Wyss
3   Zoo Basel AG, Basel, Switzerland
,
Christian Wenker
3   Zoo Basel AG, Basel, Switzerland
,
Pascal W. Hasler
4   Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Peter Meyer
4   Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Introduction

The habitat of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) is situated in Namibia and South Africa on the West Coast of Africa. They grow to a height of 60 – 70 cm and weigh between 2.5 – 3 kg. African penguins are supreme swimmers. Hunting for prey, they dive down up to 60 m and can reach a top speed of close to 20 km/h. The distance that African penguins have to travel to find food varies in accordance with the region (30 to 110 km per trip). S. demersus can get very old (10 to 27 years in the wild, and in captivity, a longer lifespan is known [1]).



Publication History

Received: 05 October 2020

Accepted: 20 January 2021

Article published online:
14 April 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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