Penguins

Flightless bird found in the ocean

Distantly related to the albatross

Have been around for at least 55 billion years

Albatross-Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Penguins

Today there are among 17 species

Only 2 of those live in Antartica year round Adelies Emporer

Where Are Penguins?

South America Africa Australia New Zealand Even in the

relatively warm waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands

Along the coastlines of: Red areas=Penguin Habitat

Confusion? Penguins vs Puffins

Penguins only live in the Southern Hemisphere

Puffins in the Northern Hemisphere.

Adaptations

Torpedo like shape

Makes swimming & diving easier

Body Shape

Adaptations (con’t)

The flippers (wings) of penguins are made of solid bone.

This helps keep the flippers rigid like a paddle.

One of the reasons penguins are such fast swimmers is their unique ability to propel forward on both the up and down stroke of their flippers.

Wings ……or Flippers

Adaptations (con’t)

Penguins use their legs and feet like a rudder to steer through the water.

Even though they are excellent swimmers, walking on land is not so easy, which explains their waddle.

Webbing between their toes also helps them swim.

Large, heavy claws help them cling to the ice or dig burrows for nesting.

Legs ……and Feet

Adaptations (con’t)

Penguins can have as many as 80 feathers per square inch, many more times than other seabirds.

The dense feathers keep them warm.

Penguins also spread oil from a gland at the base of their tail onto the feathers to make them waterproof.

Feathers Ruffling the Feathers to stay warm!

Most people recognize penguins by their distinctive black and white coloration.

This pattern helps penguins in two ways:

1. Dark feathers on the back absorb sunlight to help penguins stay warm.

2. In the water, their white underside makes it hard for predators to see them against the light from the sky.

Coloration The Rockhopper Penguin