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PG1 |
Although most people seem to
associate penguins with the cold Antarctic regions, in
fact penguins can be found around the coasts of most islands
in the Southern Ocean. |
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PG2 |
Like most birds, penguins have little or
no sense of smell (a boon for those in a crowded penguin
rookery!) |
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PG3 |
Penguin calls (vocalizations) are individually
identifiable, allowing partners to recognize each other
and also their chick. |
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PG4 |
Penguins exhibit intricate courting and
mate-recognition behavior. Elaborate visual and vocal
displays help establish and maintain nesting territories. |
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PG5 |
In addition to blubber for insulating warmth,
penguins have stiff, tightly packed feathers (up to 70
per sq. in.) that overlap to provide waterproofing. |
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PG6 |
The penguin body is fusiform and streamlined,
adapted for swimming. A penguin has a large head, short
neck, and elongated body. |
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PG7 |
Penguins may swim and feed in groups, but
some may be solitary when diving for food. |
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PG8 |
The legs and webbed feet are set far back
on the body, which causes penguins to stand upright when
on land. |
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PG9 |
Penguins are designed for life in the sea.
Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives in the
water. They lay their eggs and to raise their chicks on
land. |
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PG10 |
Penguins eat krill, squids, and fishes.
Various species of penguins have slightly different food
preferences, which reduces competition among species. |
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PG11 |
The average lifespan of penguins is probably
15 to 20 years. Some individuals live considerably longer. |
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PG12 |
Most northerly penguins are found on the
Galapagos Islands which straddle the equator.
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PG13 |
Penguins are considered to be the most social
of birds. Rookeries may contain thousands of individuals. |
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PG14 |
Penguins communicate by vocalizing and performing
physical behaviors called "displays." |
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PG15 |
Penguins generally live on islands and remote
continental regions that are free of land predators, where
their inability to fly is not detrimental to their survival.
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