Facts and Information
about Penguins

Facts and Information about Penguins

The first documented information about penguins date back to the late 1490's, when they were observed by Portuguese explorers travelling along the southern coasts of Africa.

The word "Pinguis" means "fat" in Latin if you are curious how these creatures got that name. Many agree that the name is quite unique for such an unusual type of bird.

It is believed the first penguins were living in Peru more than 55 million years ago, although they were not fully adapted to aquatic life.

Penguins are well known for their tuxedo style of look - with the black and white, which gives them a unique appearence. They are a type of bird even though none of the species are able to fly. It is believed they are descendents of very early types of birds.

Scientists believe that they had to adapt to living in the water rather than just on land in order to survive. As a result what was once feathers and wings for them to fly became flappers for them to swim with but they lost the ability to fly.

There are some penguins out there that are all white, but they are very rare. They don’t have the camouflage that others do though so they end up being more accessible to predators. They were also hunted often by people but such practice it is illegal to do now. Many people believe that a white penguin is albino but it is actually a type of penguin with a unusual mutation.

The predators for penguins will depend on where they happen to be located. Some of the common ones include leopard seals, snakes, foxes, sea lions, sharks, and even killer whales. They also suffer at the hands of humans because they have been known to be hunted. They also get caught up in the large fishing nets out there in the waters while attempting to hunt for their own food.

Penguins don’t get bothered by the cold as we would think they do because of the layers of fat on their bodies. However, some penguin species that do not live in the colder regions, get too hot and that is a concern for them. Due to global warming it has become even more of a concern out there. They often extend their flippers to help stay cool. They also spend more time in the water when the heat is too hot for them on land.

There are many different types of penguins found around the world. Some of them are near extinction while others are considered to be very vulnerable at this point in time. A few of them seem to be thriving as they are able to continually adapt to their environment as they need to. When we allow the destruction of their natural environment we prevent them from being able to successfully live like they should. This includes polluting the waters in which they swim and hunt for food. When chemicals, oil, and even trash find their way into the waters penguins often die from it.

On average the life span for a penguin is about 15-20 years. Some of the smaller species have a life span of only half that. There are a few of the larger species that have been known to live several more decades than that. All types of penguins seem to do very well in captivity, and that certainly does increase their life span.

Types of Penguins

You can find the most common species of penguins like the Emperor Penguin, the Adelie Penguin, the King Penguin, the Galapagos Penguin, the Humboldt Penguin, the Macaroni Penguin, the Little Blue or Fairy Penguin, the Rockhopper Penguin and the African Penguin.
 

Penguin communication is basic for its survival in one of the most extremous habitats in the planet. For this, a social structure is also important.

Penguin distribution will show how penguins are located around the globe and how they have evolved besides the main predators that have endangered them.

Humans and Penguins

Penguins have been part of human history for a few centuries now, which have inspired great books and films.

However the relationship between humans and penguins has a not so pleasent side, which includes ruthless hunting for centuries.

Lately humans have invested in penguin conservation and research as well as popular education through the knowledge provided by penguins in captivity.

Frequently Asked Questions about Penguins