This is because penguins are aquatic animals and the land is not their primary domain which is why their walk looks awkward and uncoordinated. The knees are also hidden because penguins have small legs and the cold temperatures of the Antarctic region make a layer of fat and feathers a necessity for surviving the harsh weather.
But yes, penguins do have knees ! A penguin’s leg is composed of a short femur, knee, tibia and fibula. The upper leg bones are not visible as they are covered in feathers giving penguins a very short legged appearance. Here you can compare the leg of a penguin skeleton (left) to a model of a human skeleton (right).
Why do penguins have short legs?
While they are standing in land or swimming in the water, the natural position of the knees is tucked in close to the body. This is also why it looks like penguins have short legs as knees are not highly visible because they are tucked in close to their body all the time.
Also, why do penguins have such short legs?
Penguin knees are tucked up inside their body Penguins are designed to be streamlined and hydrodynamic, so having long legs would add extra drag. Having short legs with webbed feet to act like rudders, helps to give them that torpedo-like figure. If we compare bird anatomy with humans, we would see something a bit peculiar.
Another frequent inquiry is “How do Penguins walk?”.
Penguins have short legs that allow them to stand upright and walk with a waddling motion. The femur, knee, tibia, and fibula are the bones that make up the penguin’s leg. The lower region of the penguin’s body is covered with feathers which gives the penguin’s body a short and stubby appearance.
What is a penguin’s leg made of?
A penguin’s leg is composed of a short femur, knee, tibia and fibula. The upper leg bones are not visible as they are covered in feathers giving penguins a very short legged appearance. Here you can compare the leg of a penguin skeleton (left) to a model of a human skeleton (right). Take at look at these x-rays of one of our penguins.