Penguin

Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusivey in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antartica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater. They spend about half of their life on land and half in water.

Although all penguin species are native to the southern oceans, they are not found only in cold climates, such as Antartica. In fact, only a few species of penguin live so far south. Several species are found in the temperate zone, and one species, the Galpagos Penguin, lives near the Equator.

The largest living species is the Emporer Penguin, which stands about 40 cm tall and weighs 1 kg. Larger penguins inhabit colder regions, while smaller ones are generally found in temperate or even tropical climates.