Which ocean current is especially important to Galápagos penguins?

The Cromwell Current is especially important to Galápagos penguins.

This subsurface equatorial current flows eastward beneath prevailing westward surface currents. When it rises near the Galápagos Islands, it brings relatively cool, nutrient-rich water toward the surface, supporting fish and other prey used by penguins.

The current helps explain how a penguin can live in an equatorial environment. Galápagos penguins still need cool conditions, and they shelter from intense heat by using shaded lava crevices, swimming frequently and visiting the sea to regulate body temperature.

During El Niño conditions, the normal supply of cool, productive water can weaken or become disrupted. Fish numbers may fall, causing poor body condition, breeding failure and population declines. The Cromwell Current is therefore central to the species’ ecology.