Magellanic penguins wear the typical black and white tuxedo pattern, which is an adaptation called counter-shading. To prey swimming below, the penguin’s white belly blends in with the sunlight above. To predators swimming above, the penguin’s black back blends in with the dark sea below.
Magellanic Penguin
Spheniscus magellanicus
Fact File
Where to see them: Wings of the World
Height: 2 to 2.3 ft
Weight: Up to 11 lbs
Habitat: Ocean and coastal shores
Diet: Small fish and squid
Risk Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Lower risk/near threatened)
90-Second Naturalist 
