Mauritius penguin (SciiFii)

The Mauritius penguin (Spheniscus mauritiana), also known as the Rodrigues penguin, the Rodriguez penguin, the Réunion penguin, and the Mascarene penguin is a species of banded penguin (Spheniscus) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the coastlined across Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Réunion to help boost biodiversity. Like many other extant penguins, the Mauritius penguin is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Adults weigh an average of 2.2–3.5 kilograms (4.9–7.7 lbs) and are 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall. The Mauritius penguin has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. The body's upperparts are black and sharply delineated from the white underparts, which are spotted and has a black band around their throats. The pink glands above their eyes help them with thermoregulation. To cope with changing temperatures, blood is sent to the glands to be cooled by the air. The Mauritius penguin is a pursuit diver, and feeds primarily on fish and squid, although it can also feed on cuttlefish and krill. The Mauritius penguin is monogamous; it breeds in colonies, and pairs return to the same site each year. It has an extended breeding season, with nesting usually peaking from March to May in Mauritius, and November to December in Rodrigues and Réunion. A clutch of two eggs are laid either in burrows burrowed in guano, or scrapes in the sand under boulders or bushes. Incubation is undertaken equally by both parents for around 40 days. At least one parent guards the chicks for about one month, whereafter the chicks join a crèche with other chicks and both parents spending most of the day foraging in the sea. Chicks fledge at 60 to 130 days, the timing depending on environmental factors such as the quality and availability of food. The fledged chicks then go to sea on their own, where they spend the next one to nearly two years. They then return to their natal colony to molt into adult plumage. When Mauritius penguins molt, they are unable to forage in the sea as their new feathers are not yet waterproof; therefore, they fast over the entire molting period. Mauritius penguins typically take around three weeks to molt, and lose about half of their body weight by burning up their fat reserves in the process. Mauritius penguins spend most of their lives at sea until it comes time for them to lay their eggs. Females remain fertile for about 10 years. Due to high predation on the mainland, Mauritius penguins will seek protection on offshore islands, where they are safer from some of larger predators and natural challenges. These Mauritius penguins usually breed during the winter when temperatures are cooler. Mauritius penguins often will abandon their eggs if they become overheated in the hot sun, and abandoned eggs never survive the heat. The eggs are three to four times bigger than chicken's eggs. Ideally, the eggs are incubated in a burrow dug into the guano layer (which provides suitable temperature regulation), but the widespread human removal of guano deposits has rendered this type of nest unfeasible at many colonies. To compensate, Mauritius penguins burrow holes in the sand, nest under rocks or bushes, or make use of nest boxes if they are provided. The Mauritius penguins spend three weeks on land caring for their offspring, after which chicks may be left alone during the day while the parents forage. The chicks are frequently killed by predators or succumb to the hot sun. Parents usually feed hatchlings during dusk or dawn. The Mauritius penguins live to be around 25 years on average, but captive specimens, if properly cared for, can live to be around 30 years. The conservation status of the Mauritius penguin is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss, climate change, and, historically, invasive species (such as rats and pigs), however, thanks to conservationists, the Mauritius penguin is a protected species and is making a significant comeback.