These stylish flightless birds inhabit the Southern Hemisphere. But what else do you know about these amazing creatures? Take a few minutes to distract yourself and check out our fascinating collection of facts about some of the most unusual beings on the planet.
Nature has endowed penguins with an elegant tuxedo, but this is not just for show. Their coloration helps them adapt to their environment. The white belly makes these birds nearly invisible on the water's surface, while the black back allows them to blend in with the dark seabed.
The fastest penguin is the Gentoo, which can reach speeds of up to 36 km/h.
The ancestors of penguins survived the age of dinosaurs. 66 million years ago, a powerful asteroid impact led to the extinction of dinosaurs, but penguins managed to survive this catastrophe. This is confirmed by the fossil remains of their early ancestors.
Penguin colonies can number in the millions, and almost all species, except for a few, are raised in such colonies.
Molting in penguins occurs differently than in other birds. Flightless seabirds usually shed a lot of feathers at once. While new feathers grow, penguins spend all their time on land.
During fish hunting, penguins ingest a significant amount of seawater. To expel the excess water from their bodies, they have a special supraorbital gland that helps excrete salty water through sneezing or their beak.
Penguins are among the most devoted creatures. Most species form lifelong pairs.
They also generally do not change their habitat. Penguins most often live in the nests where they were born or create a new nest nearby and stay there forever.
Fluffy penguins survive on land more easily than slender ones, as they have more fat. They can easily go without food for several weeks while incubating eggs, while the female searches for food for herself.
Emperor penguins are not only the largest representatives of their species, but they also differ from others in that they do not build nests from feathers and stones. Females lay only one egg, which is incubated in a large fold on their belly. Initially, the female incubates the egg, and then rolls it to the male, who also has this fold (incubation pouch).
Penguins can steal other chicks. This happens when a female loses her chick and may take someone else's.
Both parents participate in raising the chicks. Usually, penguins care for their young for several months so that they can grow strong and learn to hunt.
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