Most of the penguins living in the extreme cold climate of Antarctica have particular adaptations that have enabled them to survive in these harsh environments. Penguins have a layer of fat beneath the skin, which helps them keep warm, and it also serves as a source of energy.
When emperor penguins incubate their egg, they often go without food for 1-2 months and in this time, the layer of blubber acts as a source of energy for them. Penguins can drink salt water as they have a supraorbital gland in their body that can remove excess salt from the water.
Do penguins live in warm climates?
Though we naturally think of penguins living in cold regions, there are penguins that live in warmer climates. In small groups, pupils could look at how the penguin keeps warm.
How do emperor penguins stay warm?
They have thick skin and lots of fat (blubber) under their skin to keep warm in cold weather. They also huddle together with their friends to keep warm. Emperor penguins have developed a social behaviour that when it gets cold, they huddle together in groups that may comprise several thousand penguins.
How do penguin feathers help them survive in the Cold?
Dr Tom Hart explains how penguin feathers have evolved to allow penguins to survive in a cold environment. One of the ways penguins keep warm is by having a very waterproof outer feather and a dry, downy, warm inner part of the feather.
How do Penguins move in water?
When there is a low availability of food near the water’s surface, penguins use their strong flippers to dive deeper into the water. When swimming in the water, penguins tuck their head in close to their body which helps to streamline their body so that they can move swiftly through the water.