- Some species live in very cold regions and others live in very warm areas.
- No species of the penguin is able to fly. They are classified as birds though.
- They use their tail and flippers to help them stay balanced when they aren’t in the water.
- Penguins are fast and agile swimmers.
- While on land penguins may waddle, hop, jump, or slide on their belly. This range of movement helps them to get through snow and rocky terrain with ease.
- Hearing is a key sense for penguins. It is the primary way that parents and young can communicate and find each other with ease in a large colony.
- Penguins are able to see well both on land and in the water.
- There are layers of thick features on their body to offer them insulation both when they are in the water and when they are on land.
- It is possible for penguins to drink salt water without any problems. Their nasal passages offer a means for any excess salt to be removed from the body.
- There are four toes found on each foot. They feature webbed feet.
- The Emperor Penguin is the largest of all species. It weighs from 60 to 90 pounds and can be up to 3 feet 7 inches tall.
- The Fairy Penguin is the smallest species. It weighs just over 2 pounds and is only 16 inches tall!
- Penguins consume krill, crustaceans, squid, and fish. They swallow them whole and rely on rear facing spines to direct the food down the esophagus.
- The penguin features more feathers on its body than any other bird.
- The process of shedding feathers takes place at least once a year. This allows them to have feathers that are clean, secure, and contain enough oil.
- Penguins fast during the molting process and remain on land instead of in the water. They survive on the layers of fat they have stored up.
- They are recognized as being the most social of all species of birds.
- Preening is a necessary task for penguins to help distribute oil all over their features. The oil comes from a gland in the tail. They use the bill to get it and to rub it on all their feathers. They may be seen twisting and turning to accomplish this task.
- Many species of penguins select one mate for life.
- The females of the colony often help to take care of the young chicks collectively.
- Males help to keep the eggs warm and safe until it is time for the young to emerge. They also help with rearing and with feeding the young.
- Conservation efforts including securing beach areas where the colonies live and lay their eggs.
- Pollution is a huge problem in the water for penguins, and efforts to keep chemicals, trash, and other debris out of them is very important.
- The young chicks have juvenile feathers and they rely on their parents to bring them food. Once their adult plumage comes in, they have to find their own food sources.
- There are 17 species of penguins. 3 species of penguins are considered to be endangered. 12 species are considered to be threatened due to dropping numbers.
- They have a very diverse distribution that allows them to find enough food and to also have land sections they can reach.
- Penguins can spend from ¼ to ¾ of their life in the water. It depends on the specific species.
- In some cultures, adult penguins are killed and boiled so that the oil can be extracted from their bodies.
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