What is the name of the penguin species that breeds on the Galápagos Islands?

The penguin species that breeds on the Galápagos Islands is the Galápagos penguin.

Galápagos penguins live mainly on Fernandina Island and the western coast of Isabela Island, where cold, nutrient-rich water from the Cromwell Current supports their food supply. Their presence near the equator is unusual because most penguins are associated with cooler southern waters.

The species survives in this warm region by using shaded lava crevices and other sheltered sites to avoid overheating. It also spends much of the day in the water, where upwelling brings small fish close to the islands. Breeding can occur when food is plentiful rather than during one fixed annual season.

The Galápagos penguin is among the smallest living penguins and is classified as endangered. El Niño events can reduce the supply of fish by weakening the cold-water upwelling that supports the marine ecosystem. The species is not the only penguin to reach warm climates, but it is the only one that breeds naturally around the equator.