Learn About Penguins
Do penguins fly? No, they do not fly but they are great swimmers. They have flippers that they use for swimming and they hunch their heads down toward their shoulders to get a better speed in the water. The shape of their bodies helps them to be fast in the water too for swimming and for diving (like a torpedo). They can also use their flippers like a paddle for swimming. Their flippers are good for something else; they use them as a way of carrying on a conversation with the other penguins (like sign language).
They divide their time between being on land and swimming around in the water. While they are in the water, they hunt for their food, eating various types of fish, squid and a shrimplike crustacean named krill. Now, here’s an interesting fact; once a penguin has caught a fish, squid or krill for that meal, it swallows it whole (and while still swimming). Wow.
They will sometimes travel a long way to find food. To get from the group (called a colony or rookery) to the feeding place, a penguin will walk or will slide like a toboggan where there are slopes.
When the spot for fishing is a long ways from the colony, they will sometimes fish in holes in the ice instead or on their way to the larger feeding place (these holes are often made by the seals in the area). I wonder if the seals know how much they help the penguins out by making those holes in the ice.
Since they may have times when they are spending awhile in the group with the other penguins and are not near fresh water for a period of time, they eat snow for their fresh water source, when needed.
Many penguins do live where there is a cold climate but, there are many different species and around 10 of the species live in a temperate zone.
What is a temperate zone? There are two. The North Temperate Zone, (which is the area between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer). The other is the South Temperate Zone (which is between the Antarctic Circle and the Tropic of Capricorn). In a temperate zone, the difference in the temperatures and climate between Summer and Winter is usually mild, compared to other zones which may have more extreme changes between hot and cold for the different seasons.
Whatever specific area they live in, penguins most often live on islands.
How big or small are penguins? The largest living penguin species is about 3 feet 7 inches tall, namely the Emperor Penguin and the smallest penguin species, the Little Blue Penguin (also called a Fairy Penguin) is only about 16 inches tall.
Whatever their size, all penguins have an appealing look about them, with their dark and white colorings, which many people agree reminds them of a tuxedo suit.
Since penguins are adorable, in their appearance and in their waddling walk, it’s no wonder that many people look for products in a penguin theme. I found an interesting list of some of these at Penguin Crafts and Products and enjoyed seeing the different photos and descriptions, representing various penguin types. I’m sure you will enjoy taking a look at those too.