answersLogoWhite

0

Penguins are adapted to survive the freezing Antarctic weather in a variety of ways.

  • Penguins have a thick layer of fat underneath the skin which helps to store energy.
  • This thick layer of fat also insulates them.
  • Penguin feathers are specially designed. They are short and have an under-layer of fine woolly down, and easily shed water - a useful characteristic given that penguins spend up to 75% of their time in the water.
  • Penguin feathers are shaped to overlap, enabling better streamlining for penguins when they are in the water, and protection from the cold wind when they are on land.
  • Their body shape is also streamlined for rapid swimming and effective diving.
  • Penguin wings, which are really flippers, and their feet are prone to losing a lot of heat because they are less well insulated. However, this problem is minimised because the muscles that operate their feet and flippers are not located deeper in the warmer, protected regions of the penguin's body. Long tendons move their feet and flippers, so it doesn't matter when the feet and flippers get too cold as they can still be operated normally.
  • Penguins have dark feathers on the broad expanse of their backs. These black feathers absorb the heat of the sun, helping to warm up the birds.
  • Penguins have a specially designed circulatory system which can adjust to conserving or releasing heat to maintain a constant temperature.
  • Many species of penguins huddle together for warmth, and the eggs are incubated on the penguins' feet, where they get constant warmth.
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What continent does the emperor penguin live in?

The emperor penguin lives in Antarctica, which is considered a continent. They are well adapted to living in the harsh conditions of the Antarctic environment.


Does a penguin live in a cold environment?

yes of course they do if they didn't they could not have all of the stuff that they have.


What type of biom does a penguin live in?

Penguins typically live in icy, cold biomes such as polar regions or the Antarctic biome. They are adapted to survive in harsh conditions, including cold temperatures and icy environments.


What bird lives in the cold?

There are lots of birds which can adapt to cold weather by humans helping them, but some birds such as Greenfinch, for instance can only feed themselves in the cold weather. We can also consider Penguins as a kind of bird, which obviously is a cold weather bird.


What kind of environment did neanderthal live in?

The neanderthals had the nomad ways. They traveled with the seasons and the game. May have started growing food for their use. They did live in caves, but could stay in the trees as well. Their inability to adapt to our ancestors presence was part of their downfall.


Why does a penguin like to live in Antarctica?

Because they are adapted to live in the Antarctica, but some like to live in hot places; like the Galapagos Islands, because they are adapted to that weather...


What bird are you live where its very cold?

penguin


How do coyote adapt to their environment?

They live in it until they are adapted.


What habitat does the penguin live in?

they live in antarctica which is a very cold contry they can live anywhere else but it has to be a cold place


What kind of people live in a tundra?

The tundra biome is actually too cold for humans to live there. Many animals and plants such as deer, bear, foxes, lemmings, snowshoe rabbits, lichens and mosses have adapted to this cold environment and live there. It is the coldest biome in the world.


What is the habitat of the penguin?

They live in a cold and snowy environment. Unless rearing chicks, they tend to stay near the edge of the ice, so that they can swim for food.


What type of environment does the emperor penguin live in?

The Arctic