Janet Evans - Penguins: 101 Fun Facts & Amazing Pictures (Featuring the Worlds Top 8 Penguins)

Penguins may share similarities with birds but they are flightless. Unlike other birds, penguins are aquatic. And they are indeed one unique member of the animal kingdom.

Figure 1: Among the cutest things about penguins are the way they seem to wear a tuxedo, the way they walk and the way they slide on their bellies playfully along the icy land.

1.Penguins are equipped with wing bones but these serve as flippers.

2.Their flipper-like wing bones may not be suited for flying but they are perfect for swimming.

3.The penguin's black-and-white appearance is used as a form of camouflage, keeping them safe from predators in the water.

4.Their diet usually consists of fish, krill and squid.

5.The penguin species that live close to the equator prefer fish diet while those close to Antarctica are more of krill and squid eaters.

6.Penguins spend more than half of their lives in the water.

7.They breed and raise their chicks on land.

8.They are usually found in the Southern Hemisphere and they do not live in the North Pole.

9.Penguins are extremely social. They do most of their activities in groups. They feed, hunt, breed, build their nests and raise their chicks together.

Figure 2: A visual proof of how social penguins are. They just like to gather around.

The Adelie Penguin is one of the most popular species. In fact, the appearance of Adelie is exactly what most people think about when they hear penguins.

Figure 3: The Adelie Penguin looks like it is wearing a tuxedo, which is actually what a lot of people have in mind whenever they think of penguins.

10.The Adelie Penguin is quite short with a height not reaching more than 30 inches.

11.Despite its being short, it is quite heavy. In fact, these penguins are considered to be overweight for their height; they weigh approximately 8 to 13 pounds.

12. Although they are considered to be the smallest among Antarctic penguins, they prove to be capable of holding their own.

13.Among the most unique features of the Adelie penguin are the white rings around its eyes.

14.They may be short but they have longer tails compared to other penguins.

15.The Adelie's beak is red but its tip appears black.

16.These penguins are very social. They have a mellow nature and they get along just fine.

17.Another notable trait about these penguins is their powerful feet. This allows them to get around the ice with ease.

18.Do you wonder how the Adelie Penguins manage to leap from water to land without sliding or slipping? The incredible grip of their powerful feet allows them to survive and even appear to have fun in their harsh environment.

Figure 4: A group of Adelie Penguins lined up waiting for their turn to leap.

19.The Adelie penguins are said to be mellow by nature, and they also look like they are fun-loving. Watching these penguins slide on their bellies down the snowy hills would make you think that like really like to play. The truth is, these movements allow them get around the ice without tiring themselves out.

20.Their favorite food is krill but they also like squid, silverfish and crustaceans.

21.They are usually found in the Antarctic but during October or November, they move to the breed grounds. During this time, Adelie penguins show their fierce nature; they are likely to become aggressive when caring for their nests.

22.The Adelie Penguin would not hesitate to steal materials from its neighbor to build its own nest.

Penguins are usually associated with snow and ice, but make the African Penguin an exemption.

Figure 5: The distinct colors of the African Penguin allow it to easily blend with the color of its environment for protection against predators.

23.The African Penguin cannot be found in Antarctica or other snowy regions of the world. Rather, they live in the islands and coasts of South Africa.

24.The average height of an African Penguin is 2 feet. These penguins can weigh up to 8 pounds.

25.The male African Penguins are often a little bigger than their female counterparts.

26.These penguins have white feathers on their bellies and black feathers on their backs. Such features are meant for camouflage and protect them against their predators.

27.Freezing temperatures are not a problem for these penguins. In their habitat, they have to deal with high temperatures.

28.Because the African Penguin does not live on snow and ice, its feet are bare.

29.The lack of feathers in this penguin's feet helps with regulating excess heat in the body.

30.The African Penguins, however, still require protection against cold water. Their dense and water proof feathers allow them to remain dry and keep them insulated.

31.These penguins can dive into the water up to an average of 30 meters in depth. However, they are also quite capable of diving as deep as 130 meters.

32.They are excellent swimmers. Their average speed is at 7 kilometers (4.34 miles) per hour. But when hunting for food, they can swim as fast as 20 kilometers (12 miles) per hour.

33.Their favorite foods include sardines and anchovies. But they also eat crustaceans, squids and other kinds of fishes.

Figure 6: An image of an African Penguin calling out and making a sound similar to the braying of a donkey.

34.They are sometimes called "Jackass Penguins." That's because they can be rather loud; they sometimes sound like the braying of donkeys.

35.The average lifespan of African Penguins is 10 years.

The Emperor Penguin is awesome not just because of its size. This specie has many qualities that make it just as special as other penguins.

Figure 7: The Emperor Penguins are the biggest among the species.

36.The Emperor Penguins are the biggest out of the 17 known penguin species. They stand at an average height of 45 inches.

37.Unlike other penguins that move to other locations to avoid the harsh winter in the Antarctic, the Emperor Penguins stay put.

38.These penguins can tolerate low temperatures of up to -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit). They are also quite capable of withstanding blizzards with speeds of 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour.

39.The Emperor Penguin's scale-like feathers are made of four layers. This gives them protection against the icy winds. Their feathers also serve as a waterproof coat when they hit the ice cold water.