One of the first things that many associate with Antarctica is the penguin. These fascinating creatures contribute significantly to the population of this continent. They may not be the most exquisite or elegant creatures but that has not stopped researchers from studying and collecting numerous details about them.
Although, there are seventeen different varieties of penguins found in the world today, only seven are found in Antarctica — the Gentoo, Macaroni, Rockhooper, King, Chinstrap, Emperor and Adelie. Among them, the Emperor is the tallest and the Adelie species are the smallest. An average penguin weighs as much as 11 pounds and is about 30 inches tall. Earlier it was believed that these creatures are nothing but fishes, but it came to be recognized much later that they were actually birds. The structure of their body makes it easy for them to acclimatize to such harsh weather conditions. They cannot fly but their waterproof wings help them move. Their big stomachs also facilitate their movement across the ice. The layer of fat covering their bodies protects them from cold and keeps them warm. It is said that penguins feel more comfortable when in water. The coloring of a penguin enables it to camouflage itself and merge with the surroundings. This way it protects itself from predators. They mainly feed on small fish and krill.
These birds are harmless and quite gregarious amongst their own species. An interesting observation about the penguins is that when in water they swim in groups and some of the species hunt together. In fact, some species spend only a quarter of their lives on land. Penguins perform certain gestures if they sense danger. These gestures act as warning signs. Bowing, preening and even flapping their wings are some of the gestures used by them. They even give out verbal signals.
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