Penguins are one of the most popular creatures in the world, mainly due to their cute, cuddly, and endearing nature. They are also quite popular given the exposure they’ve had in media, especially in movies like Happy Feet and Madagascar, making them either stars or show-stealers.
In reality, the way they are portrayed in the movies is far from their real nature. Since we don’t have much access to them, their real character can still be a mystery.
We’ve compiled a list of questions and answers about penguins, so you can get to know them better.
What Are A Group of Penguins Called?
Penguins are one of the coolest animals on the planet — so cool that a group of penguins have several names. It actually depends on where a group is situated.
On land, a group of penguins is called a waddle — yes, it’s the same word that describes how they walk. A group of penguins on land may also be called a rookery or a colony, but the latter may be applicable to larger groups of penguins, given that they really do live in colonies containing thousands of their species.
On the water, a group of penguins is called a raft because they look like they are forming a raft when they are all swimming together.
As if penguins are not cute enough, did you know that penguin chicks band together in a group once their parents go on a food hunt? Yes, they do! As expected, this group has a name too; it’s called a Creche.
Imagine how cute that would look; it’s essentially a penguin daycare!
- Waddle/Rookery/Colony: A group of penguins on land
- Raft: A group of penguins on the water
- Creche: A group of penguin chicks
Where Do Penguins Migrate?
It’s challenging to track the migration patterns of all penguins since there are about 18 species, and they live in different regions in the world.
However, an Emperor penguin’s migration habit may give us a good perspective on how the entire species go about their winter escapades.
Penguins that mostly live in Antarctica begin their migration process come March. This goes on for about six months. It turns out that Emperor penguins may either go inland of Antarctica for about 100 miles to reach their breeding grounds —with more access to food — or they’ll swim across the other outer islands of the continent.
They may swim up to 10,000 kilometers just to have constant access to food while they mate and hatch their young. This migration process also covers the moment they try to nurture their young up until they all go back home to icy Antarctica to spend summer once again.
Why Is the Penguin Fat?
Penguins are not “fat” in an unhealthy sense, although there are some chunky ones. They actually need all of that fat, or blubber, as insulation to keep themselves warm.
Penguins live in what is considered harsh winter conditions for humans. To counter its effects, they need fat as well as their thick feathers to survive. As a matter of fact, their body composition helps them thrive in such conditions.
Penguins can use up to 30% of their body weight (meaning their fat) to help them keep warm. Their heft also helps them keep their young and the rest of their colonies warm when they huddle up together.
Penguins are social animals — at least within their group. Thus, they work together to keep each other warm. They don’t just utilize their fat to keep themselves warm but to actually keep heat from dispersing from the group. Their bodies are essentially biological thermoses.
Do Penguins Need Saltwater?
Not really; they just need water in general. It could be either salt or freshwater.
Penguins thrive in the water. As a matter of fact, their bodies have evolved, so they can glide through it easily. They are adept swimmers and vicious hunters once in the water, as well.
Penguins can drink salt water to quench their thirst, and some even eat snow to get some H2O. Penguins in captivity live in freshwater, and some known species — such as the Rockhopper penguins — actually prefer freshwater over saltwater.
Ultimately, penguins are fully capable of living in water with varying salt balances. However, most penguins live in saltwater in the wild.
Do Penguins Find New Mates?
One thing that movies about penguins may have gotten right is that penguins are not only picky with their potential mates, but they mate for life. They rarely find new mates, and their original mate has probably died when they do.
This quality may also be present across all penguin species. For example, 90% of South African penguins mate for life. Adelie, Chinstrap, and Emperor penguins are only some species that share parental duties right after their chicks hatch from their eggs.
Penguins are known to be very smart creatures. One of the ways they show this is through how they identify their exact same nesting ground year after year. Their very sharp memory enables them to identify their mate amidst millions of penguins across a breeding ground.
Their devotion, as mentioned, extends to their shared parental duties until their young are capable of living on their own.
Do Seals Eat Penguins?
Yes, seals eat penguins. As a matter of fact, seals are one of the top predators of penguins.
Some other animals that prey on penguins are sharks and killer whales. Leopard seals, sea lions, and fur seals are some of the seal species with penguins on their food list.
Leopard seals, for example, don’t just eat penguins; they eat other seals, too, so they are known to be vicious predators in the water and even on the edges of land.
Seals are carnivorous, can dive deep in the water, and are very adept swimmers — just like penguins. That’s why penguins’ defenses are on guard when they’re in the water.
Sources:
https://www.penguinsinternational.org/2020/11/17/what-do-you-call-a-group-of-penguins/
https://animals.mom.com/migration-habits-penguins-6535.html
https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/cold_penguins.php
