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Penguins
Penguins live primarily in Antarctica, but can also be found in cold coastal areas of South America, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. There are seventeen species of Penguins, and seven are found only in Antarctica.
4,194 Questions
How do penguins keep warm in the cold?
Penguins are able to survive the cold because they have a variety of unique adaptations:
- 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.
- Penguins have also developed muscles inside the warmer parts of their body to control their feet by attached tendons. This allows the feet to be able to withstand temperatures just above freezing while heated by blood flow entering the flippers.
Incidentally, not all penguins live in freezing temperatures. Some are found as far north as the Galapagos Islands.
A penguin doesn't know how to slide, it doesn't slide at all infact. Many people are mistaken by penguins. PENGUINS DO NOT SLIDE !!! THEY LIE ON THEIR BELLYS AND PUSH BACK WITH THEIR FLIPPERS THAT IS NOT CALLED SLIDING!!! penguins can travell like that for as fast as 60 KM/H!!!!
Can penguins only swim in cold water?
Salt. There maybe some obscure breed of penguin I am not thinking of that lives in fresh, but most of the ones you see in zoos and tv are salt.
How long can penguins stay in water for?
A penguin can stay underwater for about 15 minutes and go to a depth of 1700 feet.
no, some penguins live in places that aren't very cold, for example, the south African penguin lives in south Africa, and 5 species of penguin live in south America, the northmost place you can find a penguin is on the galapagos islands
How long can a penguin hold its breath underwater?
The most recent research (2013) from the University of California indicates that the Emperor Penguin can remain underwater for up to 27 minutes. This is longer than any other species of penguin.
Their tail is really fast but with human arms it makes it go speed boost
Why have penguins become good swimmers?
Penguins are flightless birds.
On land penguins waddle around because of their short legs but in water.......... They are SO fast.
Penguins swim fast because of their stream lined body and their strong flippers. When they swim they are like torpedoes shooting through the water.
Who are the assistant captains for the penguins?
The Captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins is Sidney Crosby. The assistant Captain for the Pittsburgh penguins Evengi Malkn.
What initially made penguins the preferred pet of eskimo?
Penguins are not native to the Arctic regions where Eskimos traditionally reside, so they would not have been a preferred pet for Eskimos. Additionally, penguins are not domesticated animals and have specific environmental and dietary needs that would be difficult to meet in the Arctic. It is more likely that Eskimos would have preferred domesticated animals like dogs for companionship and assistance with hunting and transportation.
Why do Emperor penguins breed during Antarctic winter?
These animals breed on Antarctica because there are no land animals there to prey on this reproductive process. In order to hatch their young as soon as the sun rises, in about October, and fledge them to a state of independence before the sun sets in about March, the winter breeding season is part of their survival life cycle.
How does penguins huddle together closely during winter help the animal?
They huddle together, keeping their backs to the wind. They keep shuffling and moving is a circle, so those on the outside (suffering the cold) will eventually change with those in the warmer centre of the huddle.
How does streamline body help the penguin to swim faster?
Streamlining (whether it is in a bird, fish, airplane, car, etc) reduces drag. Less drag permits greater speed at the same energy expenditure.
Why are emperor penguins considered a species?
Emperor penguins are considered a species because they share a unique set of biological and genetic characteristics that distinguish them from other penguin species. They exhibit specific behaviors, reproductive strategies, and adaptations to their cold environments, such as their ability to survive harsh Antarctic winters. Additionally, they can interbreed only within their species, reinforcing their classification as a distinct species in the animal kingdom.
Why do penguins do tobogganing?
They don't really walk very well and, of course can't fly, so this is a very good way of going somewhere as fast as they can on land.
What is a penguins core body temperature in Antarctica?
In Antarctica, a penguin's core body temperature typically ranges between 38 to 39 degrees Celsius (about 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit). This elevated temperature helps them maintain warmth in the frigid environment. Penguins have various adaptations, such as thick layers of blubber and dense feathers, to keep their core temperature stable despite the extreme cold.
Does a penguin breathe through their lungs?
Yes, they do. They have to surface every so often just like other air breathing creatures. They do not have gills like a fish.
Why won't people in the Arctic eat penguin?
People will eat anything. This is probably a reference to the fact that penguins aren't native to the Arctic.
Why do penguins stay on their fathers' feet?
The penguin chick's feathers can't keep it warm on its own, so the penguin uses their parents as a resource.
How does a African penguin blend in with it surroundings?
African penguins blend into their surroundings primarily through their counter-shaded coloration. Their black backs help them merge with the dark ocean when viewed from above, while their white bellies blend in with the bright surface of the water when seen from below. This camouflage is essential for evading predators and enhancing their hunting efficiency. Additionally, their speckled feathers can help them blend into rocky shorelines and sandy beaches, further aiding in their concealment.
