The Amazing Penguin
by Maria D.
Introduction
Many people list penguins as their favorite animal, mostly because they are so cute. Penguins, however, are much more than their adorable appearance. Did you know that some penguins can swim up to 15 miles per hour? They can do lots of extraordinary things. Penguins have so many interesting adaptations.
Swimming
Penguin bodies are made for swimming. They have webbed feet that are very powerful. Their “wings” are used as flippers to help propel them through the water. They have streamlined bodies that help them move quickly through the water while they are swimming. Penguins also have heavy solid bones, unlike most birds. This makes it easier for them to dive down deep because their bones help them defy buoyancy.
Camouflage
Penguins have a form of camouflage called countershading, which helps them blend in with the ocean. Penguins have black backs. Therefore, when they are swimming and a predator is swimming above them, it won’t see the penguin because its back blends in with the dark ocean. Also, penguins have white stomachs. This means when a penguin is swimming and a predator is swimming below them, when they look up they won’t see the penguin because its stomach blends in with the light of the sun.
Feathers
Penguin feathers act like a jacket. They trap the warm heat from the penguin’s body and hold it so the penguin is warm on the inside. The bird’s feathers are also tightly packed together and overlap, providing a waterproof “suit.” This is necessary for the penguin because the arctic oceans can get as cold as 28 degrees F. Furthermore, the penguins black backs absorb heat.
Fasting
Believe it or not, penguins fast. They abstain from food at least once a year. Penguins fast during breeding seasons. They will not leave the nest to get food. This is so they won’t leave the egg they are sitting on, causing it to get cold and risking the unborn baby inside.
Eyes
Penguins have a special gland under each eye. This gland miraculously allows them to drink salt water. After drinking the ocean water, the gland under their eye filters and disposes of the salt, hence turning salt water into drinkable water.
Interesting facts
There are many interesting facts about penguins. For example, most penguins eat small fish and krill. Next, one of the main predators of penguins is the seal. Furthermore, some penguins porpoise, or leap out of the water like dolphins. They do this because it confuses predators. Finally, penguins have a spiny tongue and tough jaws. This makes it easy for them to catch and grip slippery prey.
Closing
As you can see, penguins are amazing birds. They have so many interesting adaptations to help them survive their environment. Their feet, coloring, feathers, and eye gland have helped them to survive in a very harsh environment. They really are wonderful little birds in tuxedos.
Works Cited
"Adaptation of Penguin?" Adaptation Of Penguin at Askives. Http://www.askives.com/adaptation-of-penguin.html. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.askives.com/adaptation-of-penguin.html>. .
Barrow, Mandy. "How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment." How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment. © Mandy Barrow Terms & Conditions | Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. <http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/adaptations/penguins.htm>.
Cousteau, Jacques-Yves. "Birds in Tuxedos." Fascinating Sea Creatures. Cousteau Society, 1992. 18-23. Print.
. "How Are Penguins Adapted?" How Are Penguins Adapted? Web. 07 Jan. 2014. <http://www.adelie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/FAQs/adaptfaq.htm>.
"How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment." How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment. © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. <http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/adaptations/penguins.htm>.
N., Rhett. "Penguin Adaptation." Adaptations. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://w3.shorecrest.org/~Lisa_Peck/MarineBio/syllabus/ch9vertebrates/reptilesandbirds/repbirdwp/rhett/adap.html>.
"Penguin Adaptations for an Aquatic Environment." © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Web. 07 Jan. 2014. <http://seaworld.org/en/Animal-Info/Animal-InfoBooks/Penguin/Adaptations>.
"Penguin Diet and Eating Habits." Diet and Eating Habits. © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://seaworld.org/en/Animal-Info/Animal-InfoBooks/Penguin/Diet-and-Eating-Habits>.
"Penguin Habitat." Penguin Facts and Information. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.penguins-world.com/penguin-habitat/>.
by Maria D.
Introduction
Many people list penguins as their favorite animal, mostly because they are so cute. Penguins, however, are much more than their adorable appearance. Did you know that some penguins can swim up to 15 miles per hour? They can do lots of extraordinary things. Penguins have so many interesting adaptations.
Swimming
Penguin bodies are made for swimming. They have webbed feet that are very powerful. Their “wings” are used as flippers to help propel them through the water. They have streamlined bodies that help them move quickly through the water while they are swimming. Penguins also have heavy solid bones, unlike most birds. This makes it easier for them to dive down deep because their bones help them defy buoyancy.
Camouflage
Penguins have a form of camouflage called countershading, which helps them blend in with the ocean. Penguins have black backs. Therefore, when they are swimming and a predator is swimming above them, it won’t see the penguin because its back blends in with the dark ocean. Also, penguins have white stomachs. This means when a penguin is swimming and a predator is swimming below them, when they look up they won’t see the penguin because its stomach blends in with the light of the sun.
Feathers
Penguin feathers act like a jacket. They trap the warm heat from the penguin’s body and hold it so the penguin is warm on the inside. The bird’s feathers are also tightly packed together and overlap, providing a waterproof “suit.” This is necessary for the penguin because the arctic oceans can get as cold as 28 degrees F. Furthermore, the penguins black backs absorb heat.
Fasting
Believe it or not, penguins fast. They abstain from food at least once a year. Penguins fast during breeding seasons. They will not leave the nest to get food. This is so they won’t leave the egg they are sitting on, causing it to get cold and risking the unborn baby inside.
Eyes
Penguins have a special gland under each eye. This gland miraculously allows them to drink salt water. After drinking the ocean water, the gland under their eye filters and disposes of the salt, hence turning salt water into drinkable water.
Interesting facts
There are many interesting facts about penguins. For example, most penguins eat small fish and krill. Next, one of the main predators of penguins is the seal. Furthermore, some penguins porpoise, or leap out of the water like dolphins. They do this because it confuses predators. Finally, penguins have a spiny tongue and tough jaws. This makes it easy for them to catch and grip slippery prey.
Closing
As you can see, penguins are amazing birds. They have so many interesting adaptations to help them survive their environment. Their feet, coloring, feathers, and eye gland have helped them to survive in a very harsh environment. They really are wonderful little birds in tuxedos.
Works Cited
"Adaptation of Penguin?" Adaptation Of Penguin at Askives. Http://www.askives.com/adaptation-of-penguin.html. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.askives.com/adaptation-of-penguin.html>. .
Barrow, Mandy. "How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment." How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment. © Mandy Barrow Terms & Conditions | Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. <http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/adaptations/penguins.htm>.
Cousteau, Jacques-Yves. "Birds in Tuxedos." Fascinating Sea Creatures. Cousteau Society, 1992. 18-23. Print.
. "How Are Penguins Adapted?" How Are Penguins Adapted? Web. 07 Jan. 2014. <http://www.adelie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/FAQs/adaptfaq.htm>.
"How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment." How Penguins Have Adapted to Their Environment. © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. <http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/adaptations/penguins.htm>.
N., Rhett. "Penguin Adaptation." Adaptations. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://w3.shorecrest.org/~Lisa_Peck/MarineBio/syllabus/ch9vertebrates/reptilesandbirds/repbirdwp/rhett/adap.html>.
"Penguin Adaptations for an Aquatic Environment." © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Web. 07 Jan. 2014. <http://seaworld.org/en/Animal-Info/Animal-InfoBooks/Penguin/Adaptations>.
"Penguin Diet and Eating Habits." Diet and Eating Habits. © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://seaworld.org/en/Animal-Info/Animal-InfoBooks/Penguin/Diet-and-Eating-Habits>.
"Penguin Habitat." Penguin Facts and Information. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.penguins-world.com/penguin-habitat/>.