Why do penguins huddle?

Answer 1

Antarctic birds and mammals - penguins, whales and seals - are warm blooded animals and they maintain similar internal body temperatures to warm blooded animals in any other climate zone - that is about 35-42°C (95-107°F). They have to keep high body temperatures to remain active. Tropical animals with more variable body temperatures such as reptiles and amphibians can warm up by basking in the sun if they cool down - and they never cool down that much. A large (bigger than a small insect) Antarctic animal will never get enough energy from the surroundings to become active if it allows itself to cool (there are exceptions at the other end of the size scale amongst very small insects and mites and in the fish) so they have to stay warm to be active.

Hello year 10 BHS

Answer 2

We know that male emperor penguins huddle through the harshest conditions to help keep themselves warm. This remarkable bird incubates an egg through the middle of the Antarctic winter. They can only do so if the colony huddles against the extreme cold. The birds move around a bit so that no bird is always on the outside, and in this way they loose less energy keeping themselves and their egg warm. It's an adaptation that improves their chances of making it through 'til spring when the females rejoin the colony.

Answer 3

Penguins huddle to stay warm in cold temperatures. By standing close together, they can share body heat and protect each other from the harsh Antarctic weather. Huddling also helps penguins conserve energy and maintain their body temperature during long periods of darkness in winter.

Answer 4

They huddle to keep warm. They normally do this during snowstorms. They take turns on the outside.

Answer 5

so they can keep there egg warm because without the huddle the solitary penguin alone will die.