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three to eight years of age. The life span for most species averages fifteen to twenty years while some live longer.

All species of Penguins live south of the equator. All the way from Antarctica to Galapagos Islands just off the coast of Ecuador; this is south of the equator. The penguins tend to live on islands and remote landmasses that are fairly free of land predators. Seventy-five percent of the life of some species of penguin is spent at sea. They will come out to breed and molt.

The largest population of penguin belongs to the Chinstrap with an estimated six and a half million breeding pairs. The lowest population is less than seven thousand for the yellow-eyed penguin that is considered to be vulnerable. The Galapagos penguin is on the endangered species list. The Antarctic Treaty legally protects all Antarctic penguins. Penguins are in danger from destruction of their habitat, over fishing that causes the loss of their food source, oil spills and humans invading nesting areas.

Penguins will huddle together in order to escape wind and conserve warmth. They will take turns going to the inside of the group; once they are warm they will go back to the outside of the group and protect the others from the weather.

Sources:
http://www.sea world.org/animal-info/Animal-b ytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelom ates/deuterostomes/chordata/cr aniata/aves/sphenisciformes/pe nguins.htm
http://animals.natio nalgeographic.com/animals/bird s/emperor-penguin.html

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