PENGUINS OF ANTARCTIA

SPECIES

• There are 7 species of Antarctic penguins.
• Adelie, Chinstrap, Emperor, Gentoo, King, Macaroni and Rockhopper
• The first 4 species are true Antarctic species because they breed on the Antarctic continent
• The King, Macaroni and Rockhopper breed on sub Antrctic regions
• There are 29 million penguins in Antarctica.

BREEDING

• Penguins breed in large colonies called rookeries.
• They build nests of stone and incubate one or two eggs.
• Penguins are experiencing a population boom.
• This is due to an abundance of krill.
• Emperor and king penguins keep the egg covered by a pouch.

NESTING

• King and emperor penguins use a simple pile of stones as a nest.
• The nests are slightly higher than the surrounding land.
• This is to protect the eggs from flooding if the temperature rises and the snow melts.
• The stones used to build the nests are stolen and swapped between the colony.
• Penguin colonies are loud, busy and smelly.

PREDATORS

• Leopard seals are the penguins main predator.
• Skuas are a threat to eggs and unguarded chicks.
• Seagulls.
• Giant petrels (a sea bird).
• Killer whales.

CLIMATE AND HABITAT

• Pengiuns live in water most of the time. Temperatures can reach -90c.
• They are warm-blooded.
• They keep warm in the water due to a layer of fat under the skin.
• On the land their feathers keep them warm.
• They huddle in groups of several thousand penguins to keep warm.

BEHAVIOUR

• The emperor penguin is a social animal.
• Penguins can be active day or night.
• They hunt in groups. There are no leaders in the colony.
• Penguins improve their appearence by preening their feathers.
• A gland in their tail produces oil,they use their bill to put this on their feathers.

DIET

• Penguins eat krill, an animal similar to shrimp, fish and squid.
• The main food groups are crustaceans and cephalopods.
• Female penguins feed the hatchlings by chewing the food and putting it in their mouths.
• All their diet comes from the ocean.
• During winter male penguins fast while protecting the eggs.

OCEAN HABITS

• Penguins drink sea water.
• They spend half their life in water, the other half is on land.
• Emperor penguins can spend 20 minutes underwater.
• Their colours act as a camouflage in the water.
• They have powerful flippers and streamlined bodies make which makes them very fast swimmers.

LIFESPAN

• Penguins live on average for 15-20 years.
• Global warming changes the distribution of food sources.
• Global warming also causes rising temperatures which reduces breeding grounds.
• The population will decline rapidly over the next 3 generations due to climate change.
• Emperor penguins are considered to be a threatened species.

INTRESTING FACTS

• Several million years ago penguins lost the ability to fly.
• Penguins eyes work better underwater than they do on land.
• They don't chew their food, they swallow it whole.
• They are very playful and go tobogganing.
• When they find a mate, they sing to each other to recognise their voices.

HISTORY

• Penguins adapted to the harsh conditions of Antarctica
• Antarctica broke off Gondwanaland 40-50 million years ago.
• The female and male relationship lasts for 5 years.
• The males present females pebbles as gifts in the courting process.
• Scientists are discovering bones from extinct species.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin
• www.coolantarctica.com
• lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students
• www.factsforkids.net/antarctica
• www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• www.animalfactguide.com
• kids.nationalgeographic.com
• www.defenders.org/penguins/bacic/facts
• www.kidzone.ws/animals
• www.livescience.com/27434/penguin/facts