Today you will learn about the amazing animals called penguins. Did you know that penguins are birds? Like all birds, penguins are warm-blooded, have beaks and feathers and lay eggs. However, penguins cannot fly. Instead of wings they have flippers, which makes them excellent swimmers.
There are many types of penguins, they differ in sizes and by the black and white patterns on their heads. Some species of penguins are: the Little Penguin, the Rockhopper Penguin, the Adelie Penguin, the African Penguin, the King Penguin and the Emperor Penguin.
Penguins are hunters. They hunt in the ocean, and their main food is fish. They can also eat krill, squid and other small ocean creatures. Penguins’ enemies at sea are larger predators – such as sharks, orcas and seals.
Penguins live only in the southern hemisphere. Most of them live in Antarctica which is an icy continent at the South Pole. You can also see penguins on the coasts of Africa, Australia and South America. Penguins have a thick layer of fat and tightly packed feathers which makes it possible for them to live in very cold climates. When on the ground, they hop or waddle on their hind feet. Penguins can also lie on their stomachs and slide quickly on ice and snow. Usually penguins live in huge colonies, up to several thousand animals in one place. This helps them protect themselves and their babies against predators and keep warm in low temperatures. Penguins form pairs to lay eggs and take care of the chicks. The mother penguin lays one or two eggs, and the two parents sit on the eggs in turns to keep them warm.
Penguins are very friendly and curious animals. They have no fear of people and eagerly approach them.
