Penguins look like little people wearing tuxedos! Petite creatures, they are found inhabiting mainly the country of Antarctica and might also be seen in the cold costal areas of South America, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. They are basically aquatic birds, which can swim but cannot fly. Penguins have white undersides and a dark upper side (usually black or dark brown). They are great swimmers and on land, they either waddle on their feet or slide on their bellies. Want to know more about penguins? Read on further and get some very interesting facts and information on the adorable creatures.
Facts about Penguin
- Class: Aves
- Order: Sphenisciformes
- Family: Spheniscidae
- Genus: Aptenodytes, Eudyptes, Eudyptula, Megadyptes, Pygoscelis and Spheniscus
- Number of Species: 17 to 20 living species
- Height : 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
- Weight: 35 kg (75 lb)
- Color: Black/Brown and White
- Age: 15-20 years
- Smallest Breed: Little Blue Penguin (40 cm tall, with weight of 1 kg)
- Largest Breed: Emperor Penguins (115 cm tall)
- Natural Habitat: Mainly in Antarctica and also in cold costal areas of South America, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa
- Diet: Krill, fish, squid and other forms of sea life
- Swimming Speed: Up to 25 miles per hour
- Reproductive Age: 3-5 years
- Number of Eggs: 1-2
Interesting Information on Penguins
- Penguins are birds, but they cannot fly. However, they are expert at swimming.
- Penguins live in large groups called colonies or rookery.
- Penguins breed only on land and lay eggs.
- In case of penguins, it is the male who takes care of the egg after the female lays it.
- Penguins have no biological defenses against germs that thrive in conditions other than cold ones. This is the reason why so many of them die in zoos.
- In order to move quickly on ice, penguins fall on their bellies and, using their feet, push themselves across the ice.
- Being strong swimmers, penguins can jump up to six feet out of water, while landing on the surface.
- Penguins cannot swim backwards.
- A penguin can hold its breath for six minutes underwater.
- Penguins have insulating layers on their body, consisting of tightly packed feathers, air, skin and blubber, which help them keep warm.
- A penguin fluffs out its feathers, away from the body, to cool itself.
- The total population of penguins in the world is estimated to be somewhere around 100 million.
- Penguins can drink salt water.
