Scientific name Spheniscidae Kani Falconer Higher Classification Sphenisciformes

Scientific name: Spheniscidae Kani Falconer Higher Classification: Sphenisciformes Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves

Body Structure • • • Upright body posture Fusiform (tapered) shape Forelimbs made into flippers Short wedge-shaped tail Hind limbs supported by webbed feet Markings on the head make it easy to distinguish the different species of penguins apart

18 Species • • • • • Emperor King Adelie Gentoo Chinstrap northern/southern rockhopper Macaroni Royal Fiordland crested erect-crested snares island yellow-eyed Fairy Magellanic Humboldt African Galapagos

Habitat • All 18 species live in every continent in the southern hemisphere • Generally live on islands • Adapted to living at sea • Nutrient-rich cold-water currents • Spheniscus penguins live in upswellings and continental shelves • 95% of galapagos penguins are found along the western coast of Isbaela and around Fernandina island • Different species live in varying climates • Galapagos in tropical islands – Emperor penguins in Antarctica

Height/Weight • Emperor Penguin is the largest standing 44 inches tall • They weigh 60 -90 lbs • Fairy Penguin is the smallest standing only 16 inches • They weigh 2. 2 lbs

Diet • Fish • Squid • Krill • Crustaceans The hook at the end of the bill makes it perfect for grabbing dinner Penguins have backward facing bristles on their tongue that helps slippery food from getting away They drink salt water They contain a special gland in their bodies that takes out the salt they drink and pushes it out of the grooves in their bill

Life Span • 15 -20 years • Chinstrap penguins are the most numerous with an estimated population of 6. 5 million breeding pairs

Facts • Some species spend 75% of their lives in the sea-only coming up for breeding and molting • Penguins have denser feathers than most other types of birds and have as many as 70 feathers per square inch • The feathers are tufted down on the shaft to keep the penguins warm

Facts (contd. ) • Adult penguins are countershaded (dark dorsal, light ventral) which helps them hide from predators such as killer whales, sharks, and leopard seals • Antarctic species of penguins can move quickly by tobogganing on their bellies using their flippers and feet to help propel them • The most endangered penguin species is the yelloweyed penguin which lives on the coast of New Zealand • The yellow-eyed penguin has a population less than 7000

• http: //www. discovery. com/tvshows/penguins-waddle-all-theway/videos/penguin-cams-take-a-beating/

• https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=E_ynjz 8 T k. RU

References • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=E_ynjz 8 T k. RU • seaworld. org • http: //www. kidzone. ws • http: //www. discovery. com/tvshows/penguins-waddle-all-theway/videos/penguin-cams-take-a-beating/