[The Penguin Page]

Genus: Spheniscus: "...little wedge..."

There are four members in the genus Spheniscus. You should note that this genus also shares the root of the Family (Spheniscidae) and the Order (Sphenisciformes) in the nomenclature of penguins. This is due to the fact that members of the genus Spheniscus were discovered first. The members of Spheniscus live on the continent of South America mostly; one of them lives on the continent of Africa. Can you guess why? Clades

African penguin
(S. demersus)

Galapagos penguin
(S. mendiculus)

Humboldt penguin
(S. humboldti)

Magellanic penguin
(S. magellanicus)