The Flightless Birds

EMPEROR PEINGUINS

By KatieC.

Introduction

*The scientific name for the emperor penguin is Aptenodytes Forsteri

*The penguin is one of the birds who can not fly

*The emperor penguin is the tallest penguin out of seventeen species

*Emperor penguins are endangered

Physical Features

*Emperor penguins can get up to four feet and weigh up to 66 pounds

*The penguins chunky streamline body is white on the front and black on the back

*The flippers are the short stubby wings adapted for swimming

*The penguin has a waterproof coat in three layers of short oily feathers to keep it warm

Physical Features Continued

* Penguins have good hearing because there ear openings are covered with feathers

* The nostrils in the penguins beak are especially adapted for cold weather they take cold weather they take heat from the penguins breath

* The penguins eyes can see reasonably well below water

* The penguin has a special pouch like skin to keep the baby warm

* The feet are set far back on the body so the penguin walks with a clumsy waddle or hop

* Emperor penguins has a patch of orange on there cheek

* Penguins have no teeth because they have a beak right below there eyes

Lifespan

*Emperor penguins can live up to 20 years

*In captivity emperor penguins can live up to 30

*Female emperor penguins live longer than male emperor penguins

Habitat and Climate

*Emperor penguins live in Antarctica because it’s very cold that’s why they have blubber

*They live in Southern Hemisphere where its filled with ice and water filled with fish

*In June its at least 30 degrees and wind blows every day

*In Southern Hemisphere the seasons are totally different than ours

*In the winter it’s at least below 10 degrees

Landforms

*Emperor penguins live in Southern Hemisphere which is in Antarctica were its covered with glaciers and snow

*Mountains are every were so they can slide down on their slim bellies

*Water surrounds near the flat ground packed with snow

*The Artic landform is all ice and snow

*Near the water there is rocks where some other penguins lay eggs

They eat

*Fish

*Krill

*Squid

*Emperor penguins are carnivores

*Carnivores eat meat

Eats Them

*Killer whale

*Leopard seal

*People

Prey and Predators

Behavior

*Emperor penguins are among the most social of all birds

*Emperor penguins mate at least once a year for company

*Emperor penguins have a loud call called a love call it attracts females they raise there head and call

*Penguins travel in big huddles while they watch out for predators in the blowing wind

*Emperor penguins sleep standing up with its family under big glaciers for protection

Chicks

*The emperor penguins egg is about 5 inches when laid

*Emperor penguins balance on their feet and keep their egg between their feet with warm feathers covering the egg for warmth

*Emperor penguins give birth to one chick in there life time

*Chicks go in little groups called nursery groups when there one month old but they must stay close to there parents

*Emperor chicks are at least 10 pounds born

*Some chicks fall down to the freezing weather and die

Physical Adaptation*The flippers on the penguin are

short and full of feathers they help the penguin keep warm under water and let the penguin swim with ease

*The penguin have special webbed feet so when swimming the penguin uses it feet as steering rudders and as breaks to slow down

*The emperor penguin have special eyes to look clearly through the water to find fish

*The Emperor penguin has a huge streamlined body to help it soar through the water and down glaciers

Behavioral Adaptation

*Emperor penguins huddle in large groups to stay warm in cold conditions

*Emperor penguins have a loud call. The call helps the mother find her baby in the cold weather

* Penguins walk hundreds of miles to find a water hole with fish so they can eat

*Emperor penguins dive one at a time so if the penguin comes up it means that there is no predators in the water

Physiological Adaptations*Emperor penguins have a special

muscles in their flippers that make the flippers stiff but not the shoulder it helps it propel through the water

*Penguins have a strong muscle in their feet to help the penguin stand up and waddle around

*Emperor penguins have a special thing in there digestion system it helps them digest the fish they swallow

*Under the penguins skin is a thick layer of fat called blubber it protects the penguin from ice cold water and wind

Dangers*The emperor penguin is

endangered from global warming because penguins are ruled by ice but they can not live if its melting

*Sometimes oil can get in the penguins feathers and if they peck at them they could get poisoned

*Fishing is also a great danger it reduces the available food making it hard to raise chicks

*People can cause problems for themselves planes carrying tourist can frighten the birds from there eggs or chicks

Fun Facts!

In 1620 when a explorer saw penguins for the first time he claimed he discovered feathered fish

Penguins are a ancient bird family fossils 50 to 60 million years old where found on the coast of New Zealand

Emperor penguins spend 75 percent of their time in water instead of land

An emperor penguin can hold its breath and stay under water for 18 minutes