Description: The Galapagos are not as warm as you might think. For one thing, they have their own penguins, named Galapagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus).
Like the other animals I’ve highlighted this year, they were endemic to the islands and are the second or third smallest penguins in the world, depending on which guide you talk to.
This was my first time seeing an actual, real world penguin in the wild. Later while snorkeling one passed by in the water and that was pretty dang cool.
Photograph Copyright Peter West Carey. Image Available For Commercial Licensing (email)