Untitled Document
 Penguins
are only found in the southern hemisphere. Penguins
do not fly. But in fact, they are birds.
Penguins have evolved webbed feet (similar to ducks).
Their wings have evolved into flippers. Their feet and
wings help them swim very fast and catch food while swimming in the sea.
There are about 19 different kinds of penguins in the world. The Emperor Penguin is the largest of all the penguins.
It can reach 1.2 meters tall and
weigh 30~40 kilograms as
an adult. Emperor penguins can
live to be 20 years of age. The smallest penguin species is the Little Blue
Penguin. It is also known as the Fairy Penguin or Blue Penguin. It
is only 40 centimeters tall.
Smaller penguins live in warmer areas such as Australia,
New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands and South Africa. Larger penguins
live in colder areas such as Antarctica. Penguins waddle on their feet to get around on land. They
also slide across the snow on
their bellies and propel themselves forward with their flippers to
help them travel across land faster.
All penguins have dark backs and white bellies.
This coloring protects them from their
predators such as whales and seals. Their white bellies
blend in with the bright
surface of the sea when a
predator is looking up to the surface of the water. Their dark backs
help them blend into the dark deep ocean if a predator is looking
for prey from above. |
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