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Penguin Facts

We usually think of penguins as dapper, waddling little fellows because of their tuxedo-like color pattern. But there's more to penguins than meets the eye.

The penguin is in the family Spheniscidae. It is found in the Southern hemisphere only (in places such as Antarctica and Australia). Although the penguin has wings, it cannot fly. The wings are designed as flippers. The penguin's feathers are small and waterproof. Penguins have webbed feet.

Penguins are carnivores and they eat fish, squid, other sea creatures. Their mouths have backward-pointing, fleshy spines with which they eat these creatures.

Emperor Penguin

The emperor penguin is the largest of the penguins, standing about 4 feet tall. They are found in the seas around Antarctica. Emperor penguins can dive as deep as 880 feet.

The emperor penguin never comes to "true" land. But when it breeds, it does so on pack ice. The male penguin incubates a single egg on his feet for 64 days.

Fairy Penguin

Found in the shallow waters around Southern Australia and New Zealand, the fairy penguin nests in burrows. It is the smallest of all penguins. Fairy penguins stand a mere 15 inches tall. The fairy penguin is also called the little blue penguin.

The Penguin on the Television Set

...

"Odd that penguin being there. Where do you suppose he came from?"

"I don't know. Maybe he came from next door."

"Penguins don't come from next door! Penguins come from Antarctica!"

-- Monty Python