![]() The word penguin first appears in literature at the end of the 16th century. EtymologyĪ group of emperor penguins ( Aptenodytes forsteri) in Antarctica There was a great diversity of species in subantarctic regions, and at least one giant species in a region around 2,000 km south of the equator 35 mya, during the Late Eocene, a climate decidedly warmer than today. Some prehistoric penguin species were enormous: as tall or heavy as an adult human. ![]() Today, larger penguins generally inhabit colder regions, and smaller penguins inhabit regions with temperate or tropical climates. The smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin ( Eudyptula minor), also known as the fairy penguin, which stands around 30–33 cm (12–13 in) tall and weighs 1.2–1.3 kg (2.6–2.9 lb). The largest living species is the emperor penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri): on average, adults are about 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 35 kg (77 lb). They spend roughly half of their lives on land and the other half in the sea. A penguin has a spiny tongue and powerful jaws to grip slippery prey. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sea life which they catch with their bills and swallow whole while swimming. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage and flippers for swimming. ![]() ![]() They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is found north of the Equator. Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes / s f ɪ ˈ n ɪ s ɪ f ɔːr m iː z/, family Spheniscidae / s f ɪ ˈ n ɪ s ɪ d iː/) are a group of aquatic flightless birds. Penguin species of different genera from top-left, clockwise: Emperor penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri), snares penguin ( Eudyptes robustus), little penguin ( Eudyptula minor), yellow-eyed penguin ( Megadyptes antipodes), gentoo penguin ( Pygoscelis papua), African penguin ( Spheniscus demersus)īreeding range of penguins, all species (aqua) some species have wider seasonal migration ranges Possible Cretaceous origin according to molecular data ![]()
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