Penguins & Their Environment

Penguins are a species of flightless bird common to the southern hemisphere. They are aquatic creatures that spend approximately half of their lives on land and half in the ocean. Many penguins live in Antarctica, a continent home to one of the harshest environments on Earth. They have adapted to life amid glaciers and freezing cold temperatures. Penguins have also proven capable of flourishing in other environments, with some species living as far north as the equator.

  1. Penguin Origins

    • First evidence of penguins in the fossil record turns up shortly after the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. These ancestors to modern penguins, called Waimanu, lived in New Zealand approximately 62 million years ago early in the Paleocene epoch. Waimanu possessed many similarities with their modern penguin counterparts. They resembled loons in their appearance, with short wings and an elongated body. Waimanu had already become flightless by this period and used their wings to dive into deep water for food. Some species of giant penguins appeared a few million years later. These ranged from Antarctica to as far north as Peru. Some varieties grew to six feet tall and weighed more than 80 kilograms. Most giant penguins became extinct around 25 million years ago.

    Modern Penguins

    • Penguin species today are distinguished by their black-and-white plumage and flippers in place of wings. A typical penguin is carnivorous. Its diet consists of krill, fish, squid,and other ocean-dwelling animals. Penguins catch their prey by diving underwater and swimming around using their feet and flippers. They are efficient swimmers and can travel at average speeds of 15 miles per hour in the water. Penguins cannot breathe under water, so the only time these birds are airborne is when they leap out of the water to breathe in some oxygen before submerging again or to propel themselves from the ocean onto nearby land. Most penguins live in colonies ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand.

    Cold Climates

    • When people think of penguins, they naturally picture them living amid endless ice and snow. Penguins native to Antarctica have evolved over millions of years to thrive in the harsh living conditions presented by the southernmost continent. These penguins have a layer of blubber beneath their skin, much like whales, to help keep their bodies warm in extreme cold temperatures. They also have a double layer of plumage, an inner layer of fluffy down like feathers, and stiffer outer feathers. Oil covers the outer feathers to make them waterproof and windproof to aid in keeping a penguin warm. Penguins will also huddle together in large groups to maintain body heat. These groups can consist of hundreds of birds at any given time.

    Warm Climates

    • Contrary to popular belief, only a few species of penguins make their home in Antarctica. While it is true that all of these birds originate from the southern hemisphere, many penguins live farther north. Penguin species also appear in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa. Currents that transfer cold waters to northern latitudes from the Antarctic Ocean allow penguins to thrive as far north as the Galápagos Islands. Penguins in warm weather climates have to find ways to beat the heat. One method they use to keep cool is to spread out their wings and fluff out their feathers. This allows them to release heat from their bodies more quickly.