Penguin Facts

Waddling into surprising facts about penguins — the tuxedoed wonders of the Southern hemisphere.

Penguins (family Spheniscidae) are flightless seabirds that evolved in the Southern Hemisphere and are found on every continent south of the equator, from the Galápagos Islands on the equator to the Antarctic continent. The 18 species range from the 1.2 kg Little penguin to the 35 kg Emperor penguin, whose breeding biology — incubating eggs on the feet through Antarctic winter darkness — is among the most extreme reproductive strategies of any bird. Penguin anatomy reflects deep evolutionary specialisation for aquatic life: their wings have become stiff, blade-like flippers with fused elbow joints optimised for underwater propulsion, and their feathers are so densely packed (100 per square inch) that they are effectively waterproof.