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SCIENCE REPORTER, NOVEMBER 2014 62 ANIMAL ANIMAL BYTES A NY picture of Antarcca is incomplete without the waddling penguin. Considered to be the most social of birds, the penguins are designed for life in the sea. Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives in the water. But they oen leap out of the water to get a gulp of air. But how do penguins that have made the icy Antarcca their home survive in the icy cold waters? Just like whales, penguins have a layer of fat under their skin called “blubber”. This is covered with fluffy “down” feathers and on top of those they have outer feathers that overlap to seal in warmth. Penguins rub oil from a gland onto their feathers to help make them waterproof and windproof. Even so, penguins need help to stay warm. You may have oen seen groups of penguins huddled shoulder to shoulder with their wings ght against their body keeping each other warm. As many as 5,000 penguins will bunch together to warm each other up. Prior to this fasng the penguins build a fat layer, which provides energy. It is nearly impossible to disnguish between members of a large colony of penguins by sight. Therefore, penguin calls play an important part in idenfying partners and also their chick. The average lifespan of penguins is probably 15 to 20 years. However, winter starvaon may claim the lives of 50% of the chicks. Besides, in the water, penguins may be eaten by 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. They are not able to fly through the air because their wings are too small for their heavy body. But they can “fly” underwater at speeds up to 15 mph. Heavy, solid bones act like a diver’s weight belt helps penguins overcome buoyancy and allowing them to stay underwater. A streamlined body, paddle-like feet, insulang blubber, and waterght feathers all add to their efficiency and comfort underwater. They also have a remarkable deep-diving ability shoong through the water like arrows. During the breeding season some species come ashore and nest in huge colonies called rookeries. Some rookeries include hundreds of thousands of penguins and cover hundreds of square kilometers. Incubang the eggs is the male’s job while the females catch culefishes in the sea. Once the chicks hatch out, the females take over care for the offspring, and their hungry males can finally leave to fill their stomachs again. Penguin calls play an important part in identifying partners and also their chick. The average lifespan of penguins is probably 15 to 20 years. However, winter starvation may claim the lives of 50% of the chicks. COURTESY WIKIPEDIA

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SCIENCE REPORTER, NOVEMBER 2014 62

ANIMALANIMAL BYTES

ANY picture of Antarc ca is incomplete without the waddling penguin. Considered to be the most social of birds, the penguins are designed for life in the sea. Some species spend as much as 75% of their lives in the water. But they o en leap out of the water to get a gulp of air.

But how do penguins that have made the icy Antarc ca their home survive in the icy cold waters? Just like whales, penguins have a layer of fat under their skin called blubber. This is covered with u y down feathers and on top of those they have outer feathers that overlap to seal in warmth. Penguins rub oil from a gland onto their feathers to help make them waterproof and windproof. Even so, penguins need help to stay warm. You may have o en seen groups of penguins huddled shoulder to shoulder with their wings ght against their body keeping each other warm. As many as 5,000 penguins will bunch together to warm each other up.

Prior to this fas ng the penguins build a fat layer, which provides energy.

It is nearly impossible to dis nguish between members of a large colony of penguins by sight. Therefore, penguin calls play an important part in iden fying partners and also their chick. The average lifespan of penguins is probably 15 to 20 years. However, winter starva on may claim the lives of 50% of the chicks. Besides, in the water, penguins may be eaten by 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.

They are not able to y through the air because their wings are too small for their heavy body. But they can y underwater at speeds up to 15 mph. Heavy, solid bones act like a divers weight belt helps penguins overcome buoyancy and allowing them to stay underwater. A streamlined body, paddle-like feet, insula ng blubber, and water ght feathers all add to their e ciency and comfort underwater. They also have a remarkable deep-diving ability shoo ng through the water like arrows.

During the breeding season some species come ashore and nest in huge colonies called rookeries. Some rookeries include hundreds of thousands of penguins and cover hundreds of square kilometers. Incuba ng the eggs is the males job while the females catch cu le shes in the sea. Once the chicks hatch out, the females take over care for the o spring, and their hungry males can nally leave to ll their stomachs again.

Penguin calls play an important part in identifying partners and also their chick. The average lifespan of penguins is probably 15 to 20 years. However, winter starvation may claim the lives of 50% of the chicks.

COURTESY WIKIPEDIA