Antarctic penguin - description, habitat

Today we are considering another representative of the penguin family, namely the Antarctic penguin. He prefers to settle in South America, as well as in the Sandwich and Falkland Islands. Representatives of the genus are also found in other territories with a cold climate. Some stray individuals related to bachelors live in New Zealand and South Africa. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, consider everything that affects these individuals in more detail.

Description

1. In height, these birds are slightly smaller than the royal ones, grow up to 70 cm maximum. As for the weight category, it is also not too big, it is about 3-5 kg. For comparison, the king penguin weighs 15 kg.
2. Differences in gender are partially available, namely in the weight category. Males are slightly thicker than females. As for the body color, the back is pigmented in dark (black or so). In the middle, feathers of a whitish tone are noticed.
3. The wings resemble fins, they are fins in format, they are painted dark inside and white outside. The head is medium in size, at the top there is a kind of hat of feathers. From it begins a thin black strip extending below the head. It is on this basis that Antarctic individuals can be distinguished from all others.
4. The beak is quite dense and strong, black in color. Paws with membranes shortened, yellow. Fingers are pinkish. Thanks to this color, the birds are perfectly masked in the aquatic environment. If you look at them from above, it seems as if the individuals merge with water. The young growth is supported by a gray-blue fluff, the back is dark, and the abdomen is light.
5. Great dives come out of these inhabitants. They plunge to a depth of 250 meters, feeling comfortable. During the hunt, they can move up to 1 km from the coast. The feathers are waterproof, so even in cold water it is comfortable for individuals. Rarely feed, save fat stores.

Breeding

1. When two individuals meet each other, they create a strong family for life. Reproduction begins at the end of autumn and ends with the beginning of winter. Nesting is carried out colonially. During the construction of the nests, pebbles are laid out, in which there will subsequently be about 2 eggs.
2. Both parents are involved in incubation with an interval of one week. After a month, babies are born who are still 3-5 weeks old will be in a house built by parents.
3. When the young grows up, it moves on to other chicks and a manger forms. However, dad and mom do not forget about the younger generation and feed them a couple more months. Then the young growth is molted and sent into independent life.

Interesting Facts

1. If you plunge into history, it is worth noting that the individuals in question appeared on earth about 72 million years ago. Therefore, we can assume that they caught dinosaurs. Over a rather long period of time, the considered individuals belonged to a separate animal species. Only in the modern world have scientists assigned penguins to seabirds.
2. The considered individuals belong to one of the 40 species of birds that are not capable of flying at all. Among these, one can also distinguish frames, ostriches, emus, cassowaries and kiwi. Penguins do not belong to the smallest and largest representatives of such a group. If you look from the other side, they are the most charming.
3. Penguins are the only species that do not know how to fly, but who swim perfectly. In addition, the considered individuals are the only representatives of birds that walk strictly in an upright position.
4. Among other things, there are species of penguins that do not live in Antarctica or similar climatic conditions. For example, Galapagos penguins feel great in the 20 degree heat. Moreover, the temperature in such a place practically does not change.
5. The considered individuals in cold climatic conditions are knocked together in small flocks to keep warm. In this case, the temperature in such a tight circle can reach +30 degrees. Birds are constantly changing their position so that everyone is on an equal footing.
6. Penguins fun move on loose snow. In order not to fall through, they lie on their stomach and roll, pushing their paws and wings off the surface. At the same time, their speed can reach up to 25 km / h.

The considered individuals without any problems during the hunt can spend up to 30 minutes under water. They spend almost half of their lives in water. Such birds are unique in nature. They are nothing like their feathered counterparts. However, close relatives are considered albatrosses, loons and petrels.

Video: 10 facts about penguins