The penguin
π In short
The penguin is a funny bird that walks upright on two short legs, waddling left and right as if it's wearing a black suit and white shirt! Penguins can't fly, but they're superb swimmers. They live in the southern half of the Earth, some on the ice of Antarctica.
π€© Did you know?
- The emperor penguin is the biggest, 1.2 meters tall and weighing about 45 kilograms.
- The smallest penguin is only about 40 centimeters tall.
- Some penguins can dive more than 500 meters underwater.
- A penguin's black back and white belly hide it from enemies in the sea.
π Find out more
π Wings like flippers
A penguin's wings are short and flat like flippers, and it uses them to fly underwater! It swims fast and dives to catch fish, squid and little shrimp.
π A warm coat
Under a penguin's thick, tight feathers is a thick layer of fat that protects it from the bitter cold. When it's freezing, penguins huddle together to keep each other warm.
π‘ Dad protects the egg
In emperor penguins, the father holds the egg on his feet and covers it with a warm fold of skin for many weeks in the cold, while the mother goes to sea to eat.
π― Belly sliding
When a penguin wants to move fast on the snow, it lies on its belly and slides, pushing with its feet and wings, as if it's playing!
πΈ More pictures
𧩠Test yourself
1 What does a penguin use its wings for?
2 Who keeps the emperor penguin's egg on its feet?
3 The smallest penguin is only about ?? centimeters tall.
4 Which picture shows βThe penguinβ?
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