Polar misconceptions and myths abound, so we’re setting the record straight on what cold-dwelling creature actually lives where. There are no penguins in the Arctic or the South Pole . One of the most common mistakes is that penguins live in the Arctic. In fact, this penguin-free region is home to another charismatic bird—the Atlantic puffin.
You might be wondering “Are penguins found in the arctic?”
The script is supported by the known fact that there are no penguins in the Arctic, so the team of Arctic animals includes polar bears and wolfs but no penguins. But was this always the case? The term “penguin” derives from an Arctic species, whose scientific name is Pinguinus impennis, know as the Great auk.
Did Penguins ever live in the Arctic?
Although there are no penguins in the Arctic today, there are many fascinating connections between the polar north and our beloved, tuxedoed sweethearts of the south. “Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity.”.
Another common question is “Do polar bears eat penguins in Antarctica?”.
All penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere – there are no penguins in the Arctic. Since there are no polar bears in Antarctica, polar bears do not eat penguins. This is only a common misconception. Emperor penguins are the largest of all penguins. An average bird stand about 45 inches tall. Emperor penguins can dive up to 1,850 feet.
Although almost all penguin species are native to the southern hemisphere, they are not found only in areas with cold climates, such as Antarctica. In fact, only a few species of penguin live that far south. Several species are found in the temperate zone, and one species, the Galápagos penguin, lives near the Equator .
Where are the Penguins?
On many of our expeditions to the European Arctic, one of the most common questions we get asked is where the penguins are. However, as you are cruising Greenland, Spitsbergen, Norway or Scotland, there is simply no chance of seeing a penguin – their home is close to 19,000 kilometres away in Antarctica.
When we were writing we ran into the inquiry “Why are there no penguins at the South Pole?”.
That’s because penguins, which are plentiful along the Antarctic coasts—particularly the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea —are considered coastal animals, not land dwellers. So, despite what you may see in cartoons and other popular media, there are no penguins at the South Pole . The Arctic has several land predators.
What type of animal is Penguin?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with only one species, the Galapagos penguin, found north of the equator.