Not only have these birds evolved and adapted perfectly to being in the water, but they have also developed incredibly successful swimming techniques too. Most species of penguin will swim together, in a small or a large group, when looking for food. Sometimes penguins may swim below the surface and dive for a couple minutes and then resurface.
While writing we ran into the question “How do penguins get water?”.
Penguins mainly get their water from melted ice or from rivers where possible. They can also stay hydrated by eating snow. If fresh water like this is scarce, they can also drink saltwater where they live. Their special sweat glands above their eyes help to purify this water.
How does a Penguin filter salt water?
Penguins are specially designed to process saltwater, even though their bodies don’t need more salt than other animals. They have a supraorbital gland located near their eyes that filters salt out of their systems. Their blood travels through the gland, which traps the salt before it travels through their bodes.
How do penguins get around?
They swim or almost fly in the water. Penguins slide on their bellies to move . Penguins are spectacular when they get around in the water by swimming or diving. Their waddling walk on land makes them a cuddly bird in the marine. Swimming, walking, and sliding is their major ways of getting around.
Most species of penguin will swim together, in a small or a large group, when looking for food. Sometimes penguins may swim below the surface and dive for a couple minutes and then resurface. For long journeys, however, many penguins use a technique known as “porpoising”; a very similar technique used in marine mammals.
Do Penguins sweat?
Yes penguins do sweat. Their sweat glands are in a rather unusual place, situated above their eyes. As penguins don’t produce urine, any excess salt they may have from the food they eat or the water they drink is purified by these sweat glands and is passed through it’s bill or beak as bile.
Their wings (called “flippers” on penguins) and feet also serve a purpose. Although their flippers are not much use on land, they function like propellers when underwater, allowing them to move forward and increase their speed dramatically. Whilst swimming, their webbed feet get tucked away near the tail to be used to navigate through the water.
Penguins need to be able to see clearly on both land and underwater, so neither cornea shape will do. Instead they actually have corneas that are much flatter, even than ours.