Penguins, despite being members of the bird family, cannot fly. After all, they spend most of their lives hunting fish and other marine animals underwater. Their legs, located far behind, together with the tail, act as a rudder. And the wings, which had lost their original purpose, became rigid, like strong oars. But what are they covered with in a penguin - wool or feathers? After all, when diving, they deftly direct the body of the bird in the right direction. And they move very fast in the water. Use their wings as fins, flapping them as if they are flying in the air.
Does the penguin have wool or feathers?
The skin of these amazing water birds is covered with many black and white feathers. They protect them from predators, such as the leopard seal or killer whale, which, when hunting, are very often unable to distinguishwhite color on the penguin's belly from the light surface of the water surrounding it. If, on the contrary, the leopard is looking from an elevation, then it may well confuse the black back of a bird with the darkness of the ocean. Therefore, for their own safety, the penguins must wear these black and white tuxedos. Feathers grow on the entire surface of their body, which distinguishes these birds from other species in which they are located in strictly defined places.
Why are these big birds great swimmers?
So, the body of penguins is covered with feathers, between the smooth layers of which there is air, allowing them to stay on the water. It is also protection from the cold. In addition, the body of the birds has the appearance of a torpedo, which makes them excellent swimmers, quickly gaining speed from 6 to 12 kilometers per hour. On land, they use their wings and tail to keep their balance in an upright position.
Young penguins usually do not dive deep and hunt their prey from the surface of the water. Unlike them, adults are able to dive very deep into the waters of the ocean. So, for example, the emperor penguin can dive for 22 minutes to a depth of more than 560 meters. These birds cannot breathe underwater, but they are able to hold their breath for a very long time, especially the emperor penguin. Sometimes they appear above the water surface to take in air, then return back in search of food.
Appearance
Having de alt with the question of whether the penguin's body is covered with wool or feathers, it is worth mentioning the specific features of these birds. feathersthey are very close to each other, white-black, white-blue or white-gray in color with rare bright elements. At the same time, they do not perform the functions associated with flight, but their thick layer with adipose tissue provides very good insulation from the cold sea water and the harsh climate of Antarctica. Their body length is 40-122 cm and weight is from 1 to 30 kg.
On land, penguins move in small steps, swaying awkwardly from side to side, or glide on their stomachs. This sliding allows them to move very quickly, significantly saving strength. And when they want to move faster or overcome steep cliffs, they jump to a height of up to 5 meters. Their short legs are used for control in the water, and the membrane on them (like ducks) makes it easier to swim.
Interesting facts
These birds do not have external ears. Their hearing organ is two small holes located in the same place as the human ears. What is the skin of the penguin around them covered with? Also small feathers. Hearing is as important to these waterfowl as it is to all birds, especially since they track each other through mutual calls.
Why aren't penguins' fur or feathers covered with ice? A group of Chinese scientists found that penguin feathers do not freeze due to a special structure. The water just runs off before it can freeze. After a series of experiments, it was proved that liquid drops linger on the body for a very short time. This is largely due to the ability of these birds to regulate their body heat.
