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Adelie Penguins On Iceberg. Author Jason Auch.

15 Coolest Facts about Penguins

Penguins are one of Antarctica鈥檚 most famous animals probably due to its tapered at both ends and it has a large head, short neck and elongated body. This streamlined design helps penguins swim fast. They are a group of aquatic flightless birds and live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere with the exception of one species, the Gal谩pagos penguin, which is found north of the Equator. Their counter shaded dark and white plumage and flippers for swimming make them highly adaptable for life in the water.

Spending roughly half of their lives on land and the other half in the sea, they are known to only feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of life which they catch with their bills and swallow it whole while swimming.  Here are 15 fun facts about penguins considered everyone鈥檚 favorite animal from Antarctica.

1. All Penguins Live in the Southern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere of Earth. Author Sean Baker.

Interestingly, all 18 penguin species reside in the Southern Hemisphere with the exception of the Galapagos penguin which is found to the north of the equator, heading to the Northern Hemisphere on the occasional fishing trip. On the other hand, the emperor penguin spends its entire life in and around Antarctica, the coldest, most southerly point on the planet.

These highly specialized marine birds are adapted to live on islands and remote continental regions free from land predators, where their inability to fly is not detrimental to their survival.

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2. On Land They Are A Sight To Behold

They are very beautiful to watch on land. You will marvel as they have an upright stance and tend to waddle, hop, or run with their bodies angled forward. Specifically, the polar penguins can travel long distances quickly by 鈥渢obogganing,鈥� or sliding across the ice on their bellies and pushing forward with their feet. In extreme weather cold weather, they huddle together in large colonies that protect them from predators and provide warmth. These colonies consist of thousands, and even millions, of penguins.

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3. Giant Penguins Once Roamed The Earth

The penguins have evolved over time. Their ancestors are thought to have been approximately 2m tall and weighed over 100kg. This is evidenced by the fossils found in Antarctica suggesting there were once giant penguins roaming the earth around 37 million years ago. Imagine running into one of these guys on an Antarctica cruise. Quite a scary site.

4. They Have An Ability To Endure Some Of The World鈥檚 Harshest Climates

Probably one of the few animals to survive in the Antarctic region as indicated earlier is something mesmerizing. You will never get tired studying these creatures and their ability to endure some of the world鈥檚 harshest climates and coldest oceans. This is enhanced by their thick layers of feathers and extra reserves of body fat that provide excellent insulation. They also produce oil via the preen gland, which they carefully spread over their feathers to insulate their bodies and improve their speed through the water.

A special group of penguins known as the emperor penguin has a different mechanism from the others. They have two layers of feathers on their bodies and feathers on their legs, plus smaller features such as flippers and beaks to reduce exposure to the cold. They even have special fats in their feet to prevent them from freezing. The males famously form large, ever-moving huddles during the freezing cold Antarctic winters, working together to ensure they (and their precious eggs) all survive life in one of the most inhospitable places on earth.

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5. Penguins Are Also Known To 鈥楩ly鈥� Through the Water

How many of us have ever seen a penguin hit the water? Their ability to swim sure looks a lot like flying. Because their life depends on catching fish and krill every day, they have been forced to learn to swim very fast so as to avoid the predators. That is what nature teaches you.

They can also 鈥榩orpoise鈥� through the water to increase their speed. They also jump into the air before diving to release air bubbles from their feathers and improve their hydrodynamics.

6. Penguins Come Ashore To Lay Their Eggs And Raise Their Chicks

Penguin Laying an Egg. Author Mike Scott.

It is known that penguins must lay their eggs and raise their chicks ashore. Most of them stay with their mate for many years and lay only one or two eggs at a time. They are so organized that the parents usually take turns keeping their eggs warm, and when they hatch, feeding and protecting the chicks. At this time they also go out to look for food for their young ones.  When mother and father return, chicks listen for the unique audio frequency of their parents鈥� call, allowing them to reunite in a large, noisy crowd.

7. Some Penguin Species Are Also Listed On The IUCN Red List

About two-thirds of penguin species are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, making them one of the most endangered seabirds. Various factors are responsible for this including; Loss of habitat, disease, and infectious diseases spread by tourists, commercial fishing in the Southern Ocean, reduced fish supply by about half in the Antarctic Peninsula etc. The above factors make many penguins to compete for food, and put them in danger of getting accidentally captured by fishing nets.

8. Penguins Are Faithful Lovers

Emperor Penguin Parents and Chick. Author Mtpaley.

By now we know that both parents participate together in rearing their chicks. Love also breeds in these creatures.  Due to the harsh conditions in which they live, many species of penguins, such as gentoos and rockhoppers, are known to partner up for life. Scientists have observed that Adelie penguins will return to the same spot to greet the same mate every breeding season. And female emperors can spot their mates in a crowded colony, via their unique calls, after months apart during the freezing Antarctic winter. A very interesting phenomenon that as humans we also need to learn from.

9.  Penguins are Also Known To Be Excellent Walkers

King Penguins walking along at Kelly Tarlton’s. Author Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia.

Apart from the ability to 鈥榝ly鈥� though the water, many penguins can walk extremely long distances to their nests and breeding grounds across all kinds of terrain. Of particular interest are the Emperor penguins that are known to waddle and toboggan upwards of 100km to reach their destination, and Snares penguins regularly walk approximately 1 km inland through the forest to reach their colony.

10. Penguins Closest Relatives are Phenomenal Flyers

Penguins also have close relatives who are thought to be some of the best flyers in the world. They are closely related to the flying superstars of the southern oceans, the giant petrel and the albatross. Both of these birds are exceptional long-distance flyers. The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan and the ability to fly up to 800km in a single day.

11. The Penguins Are Masters of Disguise

Penguins with similar colors. Author Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia.

Penguins all have similar coloring to help them survive. The black on their backs helps penguins blend in with the dark ocean when seen from above. Similarly, their white bellies resemble the bright surface when viewed from below. This means they have a lighter belly and a darker back, and helps them camouflage from predators above and below them. 

12. Some Penguins Build Rock Nests

Nest Rock. Author Detroit Publishing Co., photographer.

Some penguins are pretty clever. Penguin species such as gentoo, Adelie, and chinstrap penguins spend significant amounts of time collecting rocks and pebbles to build the perfect nest during the breeding season. They build their rock nests on slopes to avoid having melting ice-water run through their homes.

13. Crested Penguins Lay Two Eggs

Erect-Crested Penguin. Author John Barkla.

One of the species of the penguins is the Crested Penguins. These Crested penguins (genus Eudyptes) lay two eggs. Interestingly, the second-laid egg and the subsequent chick is usually the larger of the two and usually the survivor. It typically hatches first or at the same time as the chick from the first-laid egg. The first-laid egg is often kicked out of the nest by the adults prior to hatching time.

14. Male Emperors Are Renowned For Taking Care Of The Eggs When The Females Are Away

Penguins are known to faithful lovers. Apart from this, all male penguins usually play an active role in rearing their young chicks, though the father of the year award is definitely going to the emperor penguin.

Male emperors are renowned for taking the sole responsibility of keeping their precious eggs warm through the depths of winter in Antarctica. After laying the egg, the female penguin heads off to sea for around two months on a much-needed fishing trip. All the while, the male emperors protect their eggs from the freezing conditions, safely tucking the egg away in their brood pouch and huddling together for warmth.

15. Penguins Rear Their In The Presence Of Multiple Adults

Penguins are clever animals. They believe that when living in large colonies, it is advantageous for penguins to rear their chicks in the presence of multiple adults. This behavior enables the parents to head off on fishing trips while simultaneously protecting the colony鈥檚 young from other aggressive adults or predators.

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