Penguin Distribution

Penguin Distribution

Different types of penguins live in different locations, but all of them are found in the Southern Hemisphere. Some of them are right close to the line though while others are as far away from it as they can get.

You will find that the distribution of penguins is very interesting, while some of them are able to survive in the extreme cold while others love the warmer climates.

It is a common misconception that all penguins live in icy climates. While many of them do it isn’t something that is necessary in order for them to survive. You will notice that those living in the colder locations though are fatter. They have several layers of feathers that keep them very warm in such an environment. That way they can survive there without being negatively impacted by the cold water or the very low temperatures.

The locations for penguins really depends on the ones you happen to be talking about. King Penguins are mainly found in the Antarctic regions. However, there are also known colonies of other species of penguins around New Zealand, Australia, Africa and even the Galápagos Islands, in the equator. The Macaroni Penguins only like the sub Antarctic regions. You won’t find them where it is warmer. Another type of penguin that is only around the Antarctic is the Rockhopper species.

Emperor Penguins are the most dominate in the Antarctic. They seem to have a very defined method of surviving in this part of the world. They have amazing abilities to even shut down non essential functions of their bodies during the coldest parts of the year. It is a phenomenon that fascinates scientists all over the world.

One of the most widely distributed penguins is the Adelie species. They can be found in the Antarctic and all along the coast of the Ross Sea. They are very abundant in numbers so you will be sure to find plenty of large sized colonies in these areas. Named for where they are found, the African Penguin only lives in Africa. However, you can find them all over that continent in colonies that are both large and small in size.

There are some exceptions to these rules too when to comes to the locations for penguins. Due to the changing climates and the threats to their natural habitats researchers are finding some of these species in areas that they never inhabited before. They also come across some stragglers that seem to be very out of place for a certain area. They often are living alone or with just a few other penguins. Yet they seem to be doing very well in that given location. Experts continue to monitor them as well as their behaviors to try to find a connection as to why they decided to take up a permanent residence there.

It is also very important to realize that many species of penguins migrate great distances. This can take several months each year for them to complete the process. Yet when we talk about distribution we speak of the place where they live most of the time. That is the place where they stay as their colony before they head off to the breeding grounds to lay eggs and for their offspring to be hatched.

Don’t let the different areas where penguins reside though give you a false sense of their security. They continue to drop in numbers and many of the species have conservation efforts in place to help increase them. Even though you may see penguins in various locations, the fact is that there are less than half of what there was just 50 years ago.