How do penguins adapt to life in the icy ocean?
Penguins are a group of flightless aquatic birds that live in the Southern Hemisphere, primarily in the Antarctic region. Their bodies are beautifully adapted to life at sea and under extremely cold weather conditions.
Penguins have a thick layer fat, known as blubber, under their skin. This layer, which can constitute up to 30% of the bird's body weight, acts as an excellent form of internal insulation to keep it warm in the coldest weather. Another use of the blubber is as a valuable store of energy.
After laying her egg, the female emperor penguin sets off to sea to feed, leaving her mate to incubate the egg. She returns only after about two months, by which time the male would have lost up to 40% of his body weight due to fasting (as he is unable to mov around and look for food). It is the stored body fat (blubber) that sustains him during this period of starvation.
The penguin's feathers are tightly packed and overlap to provide waterproofing and warmth - both crucial to the bird's survival in the icy winter. The black feathers on its back also absorb heat from the sun, helping it to keep warm.
Further, penguins follow the practice of huddling together to conserve the scarce heat. Male emperor penguins are known to huddle together in groups of up to 6,000, while incubating their eggs during the middle of the Antarctic winter. While those at the centre of the group are warmed by their companions' body heat, the ones on the outside are more uncomfortable as they are exposed to the biting wind and cold. They solve this problem by continually moving and exchanging places; taking turns to stand in the colder spots.
