If you have ever watched the movie Happy Feet directed by George Miller, which tells the story of a penguin named Mumble who cannot sing but excels at dancing, you will surely remember the adorable shape of this animal.
This charming bird primarily inhabits the Southern Hemisphere, where the average annual temperatures are the lowest on Earth. Let’s explore some interesting facts about these plump penguins that hide a wealth of fascinating traits.
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Scientists are still puzzled about the evolutionary history of penguins. So far, the only fossils found in New Zealand dating back about 62 million years indicate that the genus Waimaru is the oldest penguin species. Their body structure is quite similar to modern penguins, with very short wings that prevent flight. The only difference is that Waimaru did not yet inhabit aquatic environments or adapt to deep diving for prey.
Firstly, they are one of the few bird species that cannot fly, having evolved from flying ancestors about 60 million years ago. Surprisingly, their closest relatives are albatrosses, a bird known for its exceptional flying abilities. One might think that losing the ability to fly is a step backward in evolution, but in reality, their short, paddle-like wings and stiff bones enable them to swim faster, dive deeper, and adapt remarkably well to marine ecosystems, a feat unmatched by any other bird.
Penguins have a white belly and a dark back.
The typical shape of penguins features a white belly and a dark back. They use their short wings as flippers when diving underwater. Their front flippers allow them to move on land in a rather waddling manner, and notably, penguins utilize their bellies to slide on the snow when they want to move faster.
Types of Penguins
Currently, there are about 18 different species of penguins in the world. However, among these, 13 species have seen population declines due to climate change, habitat loss, and humans’ lack of responsibility in wildlife conservation. Alarmingly, 5 species are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, including the White-flippered, Erect-crested, Galapagos, Humboldt, and Yellow-eyed penguins.
True to its name, the “Little Blue Penguin” is the smallest of the 17 penguin species, standing at just 33 cm tall. They are also known as blue penguins due to their shimmering slate-blue feathers. This species is currently threatened by predators such as foxes and wolves in Australia and New Zealand.
Emperor Penguins are the second largest penguin species, standing nearly 0.9 meters tall when upright. These birds from Chile appear to wear a coat with striking black and white feathers, complemented by bright orange neck plumage.
Social Living of Penguins
Penguins are social creatures that live in large colonies, often numbering in the tens of thousands. Despite the huge and chaotic numbers, each pair of parent penguins can recognize and keep watch over their chick through their unique auditory senses.
Lifespan of Penguins
Depending on the species, penguins can live between 15 to 20 years. They spend about 75% of their lives in the marine environment. Penguins have a unique gland that can filter excess salt from their blood. This salt is expelled in liquid form through their nostrils, allowing them to easily drink seawater and thrive in this environment.
Male Penguins Incubate Eggs
Male penguins take on the responsibility of incubating eggs for about two months while the females go out to forage at sea. During this incubation period, the male penguin will cease its normal activities and focus solely on protecting the egg. They rely on stored body fat to maintain their energy. Typically, male penguins can lose up to half their body weight during this time. After the two-month incubation, the roles of the male and female penguins will switch to ensure the health of both.
Penguin Communication
In the social community of penguins, they communicate and exchange information through body language using their heads and flippers. Notably, researchers are often amazed by the affectionate bonds that develop between penguin mothers and their chicks. When a female penguin loses her chick or it dies, she may attempt to “kidnap” a chick from another family to raise. The most reasonable explanation for this behavior is that the mother cannot bear the pain of losing her chick and seeks to deceive herself.
Exceptional Swimming Ability
While penguins cannot fly, they are exceptional swimmers. They can swim at speeds of approximately 15 miles per hour, far surpassing Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, who swam at 4.7 miles per hour. Penguins can dive underwater for up to 20 minutes. Typically, smaller penguins do not dive deeply, only holding their breath for about 1-2 minutes while searching for prey. However, larger species can dive to their capabilities, with Emperor Penguins holding the record at a depth of 565 meters.
Hunting Camouflage
The unique coloration of penguins, with their white front and dark back, serves as effective camouflage while hunting. The dark color helps them blend in with the ocean’s dark depths, while the white color allows them to conceal themselves against bright ice or snow backgrounds.
Penguins do not have external genitalia, making it impossible to visually distinguish males from females. Only through chromosomal examination can their sex be determined. Notably, among penguin populations, homosexual behavior has been observed. At a wildlife park in Bremerhaven, northern Germany, two male penguins were seen incubating an egg together and behaving like a couple.
Distribution of Penguins
Larger penguin species typically inhabit colder regions due to their ability to withstand harsh weather, while smaller species are found in more temperate or even tropical areas.
For this reason, South Africa, located between the hot poles, is also home to penguins. Currently, there are 12 countries hosting large populations of penguins.
These include Ecuador, with Humboldt and Galapagos penguins found in the respective archipelagos. Each of these animals usually stands under 50 cm tall and weighs around 2.5 kg, preferring cold waters but can also tolerate heat.
Currently, there are 12 countries hosting large populations of penguins.
Peru is also home to two types of penguins, including the King Penguin, which has beautiful plumage resembling that of the Emperor Penguin, sporting three distinct colors: white, black, and yellow.
Next, several countries are fortunate to host many species of this adorable bird, including: Chile (10); Argentina (7); Uruguay (3); Brazil (1); Angola (1); Namibia (2); South Africa (4); Mozambique (1); Australia (11) and New Zealand (7).
Among the 7 penguin species in New Zealand, the Yellow-eyed Penguin (hoiho) is the most unique and rare, with approximately 500 individuals remaining. This species has a distinctive biological feature, as both the eyes, including the pupils, are mesmerizingly yellow.
In contrast to the endangered species mentioned above, the Macaroni Penguin boasts a population of up to 24 million, spread across 260 colonies throughout South America, Australia, and Marion Island. In Chile alone, there are approximately 18 million Macaroni Penguins, which is equivalent to the country’s entire population. These Macaroni Penguins can live for over 12 years, while the Little Blue Penguin lives for only 6 years, and the Magellanic Penguin can live up to 30 years.
Although humans pose the greatest threat to penguins, they also represent the greatest hope for their survival. Numerous studies and conservation projects are underway to protect their habitats and restore penguin populations. With our assistance and some practical changes that positively impact the environment, there is hope that these charming penguins will soon recover.
