What is the only species of penguin that breeds in Africa and is endangered?

The only penguin species that breeds in Africa and is endangered is the African penguin, Spheniscus demersus. It breeds along the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, making it the sole penguin with a native breeding range on the African continent.

African penguins nest in colonies on offshore islands and at a few mainland sites, including Boulders Beach near Cape Town. They lay their eggs in burrows or sheltered spaces, and both parents share incubation and chick care. Their diet consists mainly of small fish and squid, so changes in fish distribution can directly affect breeding success.

The species is also called the Cape penguin, South African penguin, black-footed penguin, or jackass penguin—the last name refers to its donkey-like braying call. It is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, a more severe category than the question’s broad wording suggests. Major threats include overfishing, climate-driven shifts in prey, habitat loss, pollution, and predation around breeding colonies.