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Life of Penguins

Penguins are becoming a part of our lives having been made popular with movies about penguins. Now, stuff that we buy from pajamas to wrapping paper has penguins on it. They are a part of our lives in this way. Did you ever think about the lives of real-life penguins? Do you ever wonder how a penguin spends its life? Penguins are flightless birds that live mostly in the ocean. They waddle about when on land because their legs or short and their bodies tall. Penguins sometimes slide on their bellies to move around on the snow and ice. Penguins fly in the water as another bird would in the air and some can dive 900 ft. While swimming penguins must come up about once ever minute for breath.

Penguins dine on fish, squid, crustaceans, crabs, and shrimp.

How do penguins live in their cold environments? Penguins live south of the equator, where the climate is cold. Blubber insulates penguins to keep them warm in cold waters. Penguins have feathers that are short and thick and waterproof. For more warmth in extra cold climates, penguins have an extra layer of feathers underneath the waterproof ones. Penguins do not want to get to cold because they start to shiver like humans. Sometimes penguins roll over in the water a flipper sticking up out of the water so it is exposed to the sun to absorb warmth from sunshine. Black feathers take in solar energy for the penguins after being in chilly waters. Mostly penguins depend on feathers to shield them from the cold temperatures. Some larger penguins pad themselves with extra fat to provide warmth. Feathers give 85% of the insulation for penguins making them most important.

What creatures threaten the lives of penguins? Seals, sea lions, and killer whales are a threat to penguins. Penguins porpoise coming in and out of the water to make it harder for predators to attack. They also swim in groups until a few miles from shore, and then separate into groups of no more than a dozen penguins. Young penguins going out to sea for the first time are unaware of the threats having had no swimming lessons are feedings at sea. The young ones are slow swimming on the surface making them more open to attacks. Humans also bring a threat to penguins and sometimes kill penguins. Oil gets in the oceans where penguins live too and then their feathers will not keep them warm. Commercial fishing makes it harder for penguins to find food. If a lot of weight is lost penguins develop lung disease, which is most likely fatal and caused

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