Context
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Recently, Mumbai’s Byculla Zoo announced the addition of two new Humboldt penguin chicks this year.
Source: Indian Express
About Humboldt penguin
- They are a medium-sized species among at least 17 species.
- The exact number of distinct species is debated, but it is generally agreed that there are between 17 and 19 species.
- Penguins are divided into six genera (see table). The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) belongs to a genus that is commonly known as the ‘banded’ group. Humboldt penguins are endemic to the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru.
- They are so named because their habitat is located near the Humboldt Current, a large oceanic upwelling characterised by cold waters.
- They have large, bare skin patches around their eyes, an adaptation to help keep them cool, according to the Smithsonian Institute.
- Their breeding season in the wild is either March-April or September-October depending on the location of the colony.
- They are one of the most popular zoo penguins due to its ability to withstand warmer climates.
Species in News UPSC 2021 : click here