Penguins

Introduction:
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds that comprise of 17 living species. They spend half of their life on land and half in the oceans. Penguins are shaped like a torpedo and are superbly adapted to an aquatic life. Although their flippers are useless for flight in the air, they do provide for great agility in the water. Penguins have a thick layer of insulating feathers that trap air to ensure buoyancy, and keep them warm in cold water. On land, penguins use their tails and flippers to maintain balance for their upright stance. Penguins either waddle on their feet or slide on their bellies across the snow, which conserves energy while moving quickly. They also jump with both feet together if they want to move more quickly, or cross steep or rocky terrain. All penguins have a white underside and a dark (mostly black) upperside.

Location:
They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Although they are not, contrary to popular belief found only in cold climates such as Antarctica. In fact, only a few species of penguin actually live so far south. At least ten species live in more temperate zones including South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Galápagos Islands. Larger penguins tend to inhabit colder regions, while smaller penguins are generally found in temperate or tropical climates.

Size:
The largest living species is the Emperor Penguin: adults average about 3.7 ft (1.1 m) tall and weigh 75 lbs (35 kg) or more. The smallest penguin species is the Little Blue Penguin (also known as the Fairy Penguin), which stands around 16" (40 cm) tall, and weighs 2.2 lbs (1 kg).

Food:
Most penguins eat seafood that they catch while swimming underwater. Their main diet is fish, though they'll also eat squid, small shrimplike animals called "krill", and crustaceans. To help keep slippery seafood from getting away, penguins have backward facing bristles on their tongues. Due to a special gland in their bodies, they are able to consume salt water. This gland takes the salt out of the water they drink, and pushes it out of grooves in their bill.

Life Cycle:
During the mating season, penguins head for special nesting areas on the shore. Mate selection is usually up to the female. Once a mate is found, they bond with each other by touching necks and slapping each other on the back with their flippers. They also "sing" to each other so they learn to recognize each other's voices. After mating and the ensuing gestational period, one or two eggs (depending on the species) will be laid. The incubation time varies from one month to as long as 60 - 63 days. During this time, the mates separate for several months; usually the male will stay to protect the egg(s) and the female will go in search of food. By the time the female returns, the egg(s) will have hatched. The chick(s) will then be fed her regurgitated food, while the male leaves to find food. A chick depends on its parents for survival between hatching and the growth of its waterproof feathers. This period may range from seven weeks to 13 months. Once a chick has fledged (replaced its juvenile down with waterproof feathers), it is able to enter the water and becomes independent of its parents. Penguins generally have the same mate for life, or at the very least, for several years. Their average lifespan is estimated to be between 15 - 20 years.

Interesting Facts:
· Penguins can run as fast as most men, and swim faster than most fish.
· Diving penguins reach 6 - 12 km per hour (3.7 to 7.5 mph), though there are reports of velocities of 27 km per hour (17 mph).
· Dives of the large Emperor Penguin have been recorded which reach a depth of 1,870 ft (565 m) and last up to 22 minutes.
· Penguins cannot breathe underwater, though they are able to hold their breath for a long time.
· They are warm blooded, just like people with a normal body temperature of about 100 degrees F.
· Penguins are able to control blood flow to their extremities, thereby keeping them from freezing.
· It is estimated that one in 50,000 penguins (of most species) are born with brown rather than black plumage.
· Rockhopper penguins can bounce up to 5 feet.

Population & Predators:
When in the water, penguins are at risk at sea from predators such as leopard seals, fur seals, sea lions, sharks, or killer whales. On land, foxes, snakes, and introduced predators such as feral dogs, cats, and stoats (members of the weasel family) prey on eggs and chicks of some penguin species, including the yellow-eyed and Galapagos penguin. Currently all 17 species of penguins are legally protected from hunting and egg collecting, 11 of which are in danger of becoming extinct. Some of the penguin's greatest threats include human competition for food sources, the introduction of predators, building activities and road construction, and trash in the ocean. Penguins have been known to ingest plastic or become tangled in debris, causing injury and death. They are also amongst the most sensitive of birds to marine oil pollution.

Help Protect Their Environment:
· Respect the Antarctic Treaty that was signed by 12 nations in 1959 and reauthourized in 1991 to protect Antarctica and preserve its living resources. The Treaty makes it illegal to harm, or in any way interfere with a penguin or its eggs.
· Support alternative fuel sources, thereby reducing our need on fossil fuels and similar emission emitting fuels.
· Be aware of your own food consumption, and try to eat everything in moderation, thereby reducing our competition on food resources with other species.
· Learn more about penguins so you can spread awareness to friends, family and other people within your community.