Penguins that live in temperate to tropical locations tend to feed mainly on fish, but those who inhabit the cold environment of the Antarctic continent have to make it mostly on krill, small crustaceans that are abundant in the surrounding waters. Meanwhile, those living in the areas in between can enjoy fish, krill, and squid.
Penguins feed their chicks regurgitated food. During fieldwork at the Falkland Islands, a researcher observed a behavior never witnessed before—an older gentoo chick was recorded several times regurgitating food and feeding its younger sibling.
What do penguins eat?
Most species of penguins feed on small fish, krill, and squid. However, diet varies depending on the species, the characteristics of each penguin and the region where they live.
Penguins, being birds, don’t have “milk” like mammals do. Instead, they produce this secretion which is sometimes called crop milk. This is a fatty, high protein food that is developed in their crop (a pouch in their throat) and given to chicks during key developmental stages.
Why do penguins regurgitate food?
Penguins have a special regurgitation (the action of bringing swallowed food up again to the mouth) feature in their creation. After two months of hunting, they come back to the nesting colony and feed their chick by regurgitation. Penguins can’t fly like other birds in search of food.
Researchers also have found that penguins store the whole prey in the stomach for some days to feed the chicks when they are backing home after hunting. The enzymes in the penguins’ stomach prevent the food from getting spoilt. Even though, when the swallowed prey is in body temperature, it is preserved by the enzymes secreted.
How do Penguins catch their prey?
All penguins hunt in the same way; they either catch their prey in the water or they can scrape krill off the underside of the ice. They do not have teeth, but instead have a very sharp bill to do this.
At the time of fasting, penguin’s digestive system does not get harmed in any way. Like few birds, penguins do not have a crop for the chicks to feed. The two-chambered stomach helps the penguins to store the food to carry to the chicks. The food to feed the chicks is in the first chamber, the proventriculus.
How do penguins take care of their young?
In some penguins, Emperor Penguins in particular, the male will care for the chick for several weeks while the female is out hunting and gorging on prey. During this time, the male produces a secretion to sustain the chick and ensure its survival.