Penguins: Penguin and Penguins Emperor Penguins Essays

Submitted By REALLYBigJohn94
Words: 1338
Pages: 6
Open Document
Inside The World of Penguins
There are 17 species of penguins some of which are found as far north as the equator. Penguins are categorized into three families: brush-tail, crested, and king/emperor penguins. Of the 17 species only six are found in Antarctica (Adélies, Chinstraps, Emperors, Gentoos, Macaronis, and Rockhoppers). Penguins often are referred to as "flippered flyers" due to their effortless movement through the water and their possible evolution from gull-like birds. It’s believed that 40-50 million years ago, while Antarctica breaking away from Gondwanaland, penguins also were separating to form their own species. Originally, indigenous to warmer climates, penguins adapted to the cold as Antarctica made its move southward. Part of their adaptation to the cold includes oily, unwettable feathers which cover the outer layers of penguins. Underneath is a layer of soft down feathers and under that a thick layer of fat. This keeps the penguins so warm they will actually fluff their feather to released trapped heat in order to cool down. In addition to their fine attire, penguins are well known for their swimming abilities. Using their flippers for propulsion and their feet as a rudder, penguins can swim in excess of 12 mph. Through the use of air sacs to protect their lungs, penguins can stay under water for 15 to 20 minutes and dive as deep as 275 feet. In the water, penguins typically feed on krill and fis. Krill eating penguins excrete pink guano, while those eating fish leave behind white guano. The yolks of penguin’s eggs often are red denoting the consumption of krill. Although very near-sighted on land, penguins posses exceptional vision in the water. Their eyes, like the many sea animals, are attuned to the colors of the sea-green, blue-green, and violet. They need this excellent vision to avoid leopard seals and killer whales, which are their primary predators in the ocean. On land their arch enemies are skuas, large birds, which snatch penguin chicks from nests.
Adélie Penguins
Adélies are relatively small birds standing on average 27.5 inches high and weighing 10-11 pounds. During the harsh winter months they stay near the outer edges of the pack ice where temperatures are slightly warmer. As summer approaches, they migrate towards the continent and form rookeries ranging in size from under a hundred to hundreds of thousands. Males arriving first attempt to reclaim old nesting spots. Females are presented with pebbles as gifts during the courting process. Adults surviving from one year to the next often mate again. However, this marriage is not permanent; pairs typically separate after five or six years. Immediately after laying her one or two eggs, the female heads for the open sea to replenish her food storage. The male incubates the eggs for the first 10-15 days while the female is away. Upon her return, the male spends 10-15 days at sea fatten up. The male eventually returns to take the final shift of 3-7 days. During the whole courtship and incubation period, mates will lose up to 45% of their initial body weight. Chicks stay with their parents for approximately three weeks during which they grow rapidly. After that, they join the other chicks in nurseries called créches. At that time, both parents go to sea to feed. This is the most dangerous time for a chick, skuas circling above continuously raid the nursery for fatten chicks. After four weeks of age, the chicks head for the sea. By late February, the colonies are abandoned.
Chinstrap Penguins
Chinstraps get their name from the thin line which circles from behind one eye under the chin to behind the other eye, much like a strap on a helmet. They are the same approximate size as Adélies. Chinstraps appear to prefer slightly warmer waters, only breeding among the islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. One of the largest colonies, Bailey's Head, is located on the side of a currently dormant volcano called Deception Island. Chinstraps
Show More

Related Documents: Penguins: Penguin and Penguins Emperor Penguins Essays

Emperor Penguins

John D. Oceanography November 12th. 2007 Emperor Penguins Having always been fascinated by emperor penguins, I have decided that for this research paper, I will be conducting reasearch on emperor penguins and how they will be affected by climate change, global warming. When we think of Emperor Penguins or penguins in gerenal, first thing that come to mind for most people has to be the popular movie Happy Feet. But what more do we know about these adorable animals outside of the movie…

Words 1362 - Pages 6

Emperor Penguin Essay

Section 1 Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes Forsteri) are fascinating creatures. These penguins are classified as birds and are carnivorous animals. They are the largest (size wise) species of penguin. They are 1.2 metres tall and they can weigh usually up to 43kg. Their life span is about 40 years! Emperor Penguins are indeed interesting animals. Habitat The Emperor Penguin lives only in the southern hemisphere, generally around the edges and surrounding waters of Antarctica. But this species of…

Words 849 - Pages 4

Emperor Penguin Research Paper

The Emperor penguins have adapted the cold winds and water with the way their build and their feathers. The feathers on the Emperor penguin aren't like normal bird feathers, they are short and there are 4 layers of scale-like feathers that protect them from the wind and sea as a waterproof coat, limiting the surface area for heat loss with an under layer of softer feathers called woolly down. When there are cold winds the penguins can puff out their feathers trapping some air that they warm up keeping…

Words 658 - Pages 3

Emperor Penguin Research Paper

As many may know, penguins in the Antarctic have a rough life. In between November and February, every 251 adelie breeding colonies line their nests with pebbles to prepare for their two eggs that are about to be laid. These nest are made slightly higher than the surrounding land, so when the temperature rises, causing to the snow to melt, their nest do not end up flooding. The male and female parent take equal duties caring for their eggs and chicks. Duties including; protecting their egg or chick…

Words 497 - Pages 2

Genetics Reveals Where Emperor Penguins Survived The Last Ice Age

where emperor penguins survived the last ice age. March 4, 2015 Retrieved from Science Daily The main topic of this article is about a study on the survival and distribution of Emperor Penguin populations over the last 30,000 before and after the last ice age. Scientists found that only three populations may have survived that ice age, and that the Ross Sea was most likely one of the places one of these populations survived in. Scientists speculate that conditions were so harsh that penguin populations…

Words 810 - Pages 4

Penguin Respiratory System

Penguin cells are eukaryotic and have all the same cells as humans with no cell walls. Emperor Penguin's Body systems are the nervous system, circulatory system, digestive system, respiratory system, excretory system, reproductive system, endocrine system and muscular system. Penguins also have lungs but they are not like our lungs. In penguin lungs, the air never stops. Early in development, the respiratory system begins as a diverticulum, that is, an out pocketing, of the digestive tract. Shortly…

Words 404 - Pages 2

Penguins Environmental Impacts

a detrimental factor in the downfall of many species around the world, but the penguins are greatly impacted which makes them a great indicator for the impacts of global warming. This is because they are not affected by anthropogenic activities. Anthropogenic activities are actions and implications set forth by mankind upon the environment such as: oil spills, deforestations, building roads across green areas. Penguins are not impacted by such activities because of the climate in which they live in…

Words 3657 - Pages 15

How The Love Revealed In The Film March Of The Penguins

In the harshest place on earth, love finds a way; or so they say in the documentary, March of the Penguins. Every spring, Emperor Penguins venture on their journey to find a mate and start their family. They travel seventy miles to the mating grounds to find “true love,” all the while undergoing attacks by predators, harsh temperatures, and trekking through hazardous waters. This Oscar-winning documentary was narrated by none other than Academy Award winning Morgan Freeman and his “god-like” voice…

Words 679 - Pages 3

Belonging Essay

is to entertain and inform people to accept changes in others and the food is also a concept shown by this animated movie. Children, teenagers are the audience. This documentary is directed by George Miller. This is the story of a little Emperor penguin named Mumble who finds he is not accepted by…

Words 1339 - Pages 6

The United States Arguments Against Climate Change

Mikaylia Yellowrobe Professor Currier World Literature 1 27th March 2024 Did you know that the U.S National Climate Assessment concluded that the “Earth’s climate is changing faster than it ever has.” Sixty six percent of Americans are somewhat worried, and thirty percent are very worried about the world’s future. Climate change is a big ecological and social challenge in today's world. Mostly started because of human activities, like coal, gas, and greenhouse emissions. Greenhouse emissions are…

Words 989 - Pages 4