Fascinating Facts About Penguins You Didn't Know

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A raft is a group of penguins in the water; a waddle is a group of penguins on land.

#1 Raft & Waddle

The black and white "tuxedo" look that most penguin species wear is a smart camouflage technique known as countershading.

#2 Countershading

This behaviour aids these birds in their defence against predators. Huddling helps penguins keep warm in cold environments.

#3 Penguins can gather for a variety of reasons

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#4 Penguins evolved to fly underwater.

Most birds have hollow, air-filled bones that let them fly light. Instead, penguins evolved with solid bones. Because solid bones minimize buoyancy.

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#5 Thick feathers aren’t the only way Penguins stays warm.

A gland near the base of its tail produces waterproof oil. Penguins spend several hours each day coating their feathers with this oil.

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Antarctica and its islands, the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Peru, and Chile are all home to them.

#6 Penguins live in many locations and habitats. 

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#7 Can never see penguins and polar bears together.

Because penguins live south of the equator and polar bears live north of the equator in the Arctic!

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#8 Penguin feet are adapted to walk long distances.

Some species can march up to 60 kilometres through sea ice to reach their nesting habitats. They angle their feet like rudders to help control direction.

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To woo female penguins, many male penguins present them with rocks. These rocks are used by the ladies to construct a nest.

#9 Male penguins gift female penguins with rocks.

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#10 Penguins poop every 20 minutes.

Penguins have a rapid metabolism, which means they need to poop frequently.

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#11 The oldest penguin fossils are 62 million years old.

That's only 3 million years after the dinosaurs became extinct!

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