Speaking of penguins, we immediately recall Antarctica. Get to know the world of penguins!
Emperor penguins
The habitat of emperor penguins is Antarctica. The body length of an adult animal exceeds one meter, and the mass can reach forty kilograms. Ten months a year, emperor penguins live in Antarctica. Scientists believe they spend two months on the open sea and on the ice floes near Antarctica.
These birds, like most penguins, are monogamous - they keep the existing pairs for life. The female is looking for a new "husband" only if her regular partner is dead. Emperor penguins do not have nests. Males lay their eggs on their paws and cover them with an abdominal fold.
Adelie Penguins
The habitat of Adélie penguins is Antarctica.
For the first time, scientists discovered these birds in one of the Antarctic regions called Adele Earth. Adelie penguins live on the border of the floating ice of Antarctica and the open sea. But you cannot nest on ice: it will melt and the eggs will drown. Therefore, in spring, penguins move to the mainland. To do this, they have to overcome from several tens to hundreds of kilometers.
They do not know how to fly, so they travel on foot or crawl on their belly, and quite quickly - at a speed of up to 6 km / h. On the shore, males build small stone nests, and females lay two eggs in them. In December, the ice melts and the penguins reappear near the water itself.
King penguins
The habitat of king penguins is Antarctica. These penguins are famous as excellent fishermen. During the breeding season, all king penguins together (about a million pairs) eat up to 7,000 tons of fish. Birds hunt in small flocks. In each of them there are several old experienced penguins. They teach youth to hunt. In order to catch fish, birds dive to a depth of more than 20 meters. Penguins go fishing once every two weeks, and in between, they eat nothing, only drink. Moreover, both fresh and salt water.
During a two-week diet, birds lose half their weight. Chicks in families of king penguins appear less often than in other species. First, the female lays one egg, the next year - another. And the third egg - only two years after the second.
Subantarctic (Papuan) penguins
The habitat of subantarctic penguins is Subantarctic islands. These birds are also often called donkey penguins because their loud cries are very similar to those of a donkey. Subantarctic penguins are great swimmers. Scientists have watched these birds swim at a speed of 40 km / h. Penguins nest among grass bunches. Females lay two eggs each. Chicks that have been born have to fight for their parents to feed them. Each time during feeding, the father runs away from the kids, and the children try to catch up with him. The one who wins the race receives a portion of food. A weaker chick is fed only if there is a lot of food.
Otherwise, he does not get anything, and he dies of hunger.In the XIX century, these birds almost died out. They were exterminated by whalers who hunted for them because of fat and eggs. Today, birds are protected by the international Red Book. You can’t hunt them.
Golden penguins
The habitat of the golden-haired penguins is the Antarctic islands. These are the most common penguins in the world. According to various zoologists, at the moment the population of these birds is from 9 million to 11.5 million pairs. During the mating season, the bachelor male spreads its wings and begins to bow gracefully in front of the female, while making loud hoarse cries.
If several males fight for the attention of a beautiful lady, they scream in chorus. The chicks are fed and guarded by males. And the females hunt and bring them food.
Antarctic Penguins
The habitat of the Antarctic penguins is the Antarctic islands. These little penguins feed on krill (small sea crustaceans). Typically, birds prefer crustaceans 4-6 cm in size. Polar explorers call Antarctic penguins "police" because of their coloring.
At the top of their head there is a black “cap”, the front of the head is white, and under the beak there is a black stripe, like a helmet strap from British police. Antarctic penguin chicks have gray dots on their heads. After the first molt, they disappear.
Great penguins
The habitat of magnificent penguins is New Zealand. This is the only penguin species that does not form colonies. Great penguins nest in independent pairs. Only young immature birds live in groups.At the same time, they stay away from the nests of adult couples. Sexual maturity in females occurs only in 3-4 years, and in males even later - in 4-5 years. Residents of the islands of New Zealand call these birds "heho", which means "noisy screamers." The fact is that when a male and a female meet after separation, they greet each other with loud cries. This is a very rare species of penguin: about 5 thousand pairs of birds have survived in the world.
Glass Penguins
The habitat of spectacled penguins is South Africa. These penguins are real couch potatoes. They do not like to roam, preferring to spend time near the sea coast. Now the coastal areas of South Africa are densely populated by people, and the birds have nowhere to live. And in 2000, they were hit hard by an oil spill off the coast of South Africa.
The National Coastal Bird Conservation Fund had to create several volunteer teams whose members washed penguins from oil.
Interesting Facts
- Male emperor penguins hatch eggs for 65-70 days. Females spend this time in the ocean. Then the parents take turns feeding the chick.
- The most decisive jumps into the water first. The rest, obeying the instinct of group behavior, dive after him.
- Parents burp semi-digested food in their chicks' mouths.
- In England and the USA, Antarctic penguins are called "pasta." In the XIX century, so-called mods.
- Antarctic penguins build small nests from mud and small stones.
- Gorgeous penguins spend very little time in water. They prefer land.
- The male eyeglasses penguin expresses love by gently stroking the female on the head.
- The cries of the penguins prevent New Zealanders from sleeping peacefully.
- Penguins are clumsy only on land. Under water they turn out to be very dexterous and graceful.
