Wild Animals A-Z

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Penguin

Little Man in a Tuxedo: Who doesn't like to watch "the little man in a tuxedo" parading around a landscape of ice? Their hesitant waddle on land, however, belies a penguin's ability in the water. With streamlined bodies, a thick coat that keeps out the cold and repels water, and flipperlike wings, naturally penguins spend most of their lives in the water.

Penguin Parenthood: Penguins breed in colonies, and males and females take turns tending to the one or two eggs that are laid per season. While the off-duty parent goes in search of food, the guardian parent supports the egg between the top of its feet and a thick fold of skin that hangs from its belly to keep the incubating egg warm.

From Emperor to Little: The largest penguin is the emperor penguin and is recognizable, not only by its nearly 4-foot height, but by the yellow, gray and black markings of the upper body and wings. The little penguin is the smallest of its kind at barely 16 inches high.

Built-In Waterproofing: Penguins preen their feathers meticulously to maintain insulation and waterproofing. A gland near the penguin's tail secretes oil into its feathers, which the bird will spread thoroughly while preening.

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MORE PENGUIN

VIDEO: An Aggressive Side to Penguins?

VIDEO: Attacked by a Leopard Seal

EXPERT: Dr. Willian Sladen (photos, audio)

TOP 10: Anatomy of a Penguin

QUIZ: Take the Penguin Quiz

SPECIES: Meet the Six Penguin Groups

VIDEO: Penguin Video Gallery

INTERACTIVE: Journey to the Crozet Islands

DID YOU KNOW?

Why Black and White?: The penguin's black and white coat helps it avoid detection by predators. From below, its white belly is difficult to distinguish from the water's reflective surface; from above, the penguin's black back blends in with the murky depths below.

A Person-Sized Penguin: The largest penguin that ever lived, Nordenskjoeld's giant penguin, was about as tall as a person — nearly twice the height of today's emperor penguin. It lived 45-37 million years ago in New Zealand and Antarctica.

Penguins at the Equator?: Not all penguins live in southern climates. The Galápagos penguin lives along the equator. It survives there because of cool temperatures and cool water brought to the islands by ocean currents.

How Stuff Works

What's the Difference Between a Penguin and a Puffin?
They're both black and white, they both love water and they're both adorable. So what's the difference between a penguin and a puffin? Find out at HowStuffWorks.com.