Penguins evolved over 60 million years ago from birds who flew through the air into birds who swam through the water. While giant penguins no longer roam the Earth, as they did up until 25 million years ago, penguins continue to hold a prime spot in our love of nature.
While many penguin species are thriving, some are listed on the Endangered Species list. The best way we can ensure we continue to have penguins in the future is to protect their natural habitat in the Southern Hemisphere, including Antarctica. Here are 6 Interesting Facts about Penguins you might not know.
Don’t Get Any Blood on That Tuxedo! Penguins Are Carnivores
Make no mistake, these cuddly-looking creatures are carnivores! This means that penguins eat only meat and no vegetables. Penguins survive on a diet of mostly fish. They also consume other marine animals, including squid and octopuses.
This diet is partly a result of the region of the Earth they inhabit. Nearly all penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, and many live in the Antarctic where there is little to no vegetation. Although penguins are predators, they are also prey. Penguin chicks can be eaten by other birds when they are smaller and more vulnerable. Adult penguins can be preyed on by leopard seals and killer whales, or orcas.
Penguins Can Drink Salt Water and Not Get Sick
It seems that penguins are tough inside and out. Their digestive system has unique features that allow the bird to survive and thrive in its marine lifestyle. Penguins have a supraorbital gland, which is a gland that filters out sodium chloride from the bloodstream.
In other words, the gland filters salt out of the blood. This allows penguins to drink salt water when they are thirsty! Don’t try that if you get stranded on a desert island, however – it would kill you!
There are No Penguins that Live in the Northern Hemisphere
Penguins only live in the wild in the Southern Hemisphere. The only penguins that ever enter the Northern Hemisphere are penguins living near the Galapagos Islands who may travel north to feed. When penguins were first discovered, they were mistakenly thought to be auks. Auks are northern birds that share some similarities in appearance with penguins. However, they are completely separate animals.
Penguins Can Swim Up to 17 Miles Per Hour
What evolution took away from penguins in terms of flight, it gave back when it comes to swimming ability. Their vestigal wings are now powerful flippers that can propel them through the water at incredible speeds. Penguins typically idle around at 4-7 miles per hour. But, when an orca or leopard seal is stalking them, they step on the gas and can hit speeds as high as 17 miles per hour!
Emperor Penguins Lay Only 1 Egg Each Breeding Season
Emperor penguins breed during the cold winter months in Antarctica and they only lay one egg each breeding season. This must put a lot of pressure on the father penguins that must bear the cold winter weather and protect the egg while the mother penguin fishes.
Giant Penguins Lived in New Zealand 40 Million Years Ago
When we look at fossil records, we find some amazing ancestors of the penguins we are used to seeing today. Emperor penguins are the largest penguins alive today. These birds can be up to 4 feet tall and can weigh 100 pounds. Giant penguin fossils . These penguins lived 40 million years ago and were nearly 6 feet tall and weighed over 170 pounds!
