Penguins are cute, flightless birds that look like they're wearing tuxedos. I'm sure you need no introduction to them, but if you, today is National Penguin Awareness Day.
If you don't need a refresher course via National Penguin Awareness Day, penguins are flightless birds, living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, many in Antarctica, but many elsewhere as well. They have countershaded black and white coloring, which gives them the appearance of wearing a tuxedo.
Although the common belief is that penguins live mostly in cold climates, there is one species, the Galapagos Penguin, which lieves near the equator. Several species are found in the temperate zone, and, in fact, only a few species live in Antarctica.
The varieties of penguin we can enjoy on National Penguin Awareness Day are as small as the Little Blue Penguin, also known as the Fairy Penguin. It stands around 16" in height and weighs around 2 pounds.
Meanwhile, the largest penguin known is the Emperor Penguin. In this species adults average about 3'7" tall and weigh about 75 pounds.
However sleek and clean their lines may look, that stuff on their bodies is still feathers. The countershading of their coloration is designed to protect them against predators. The white belly, when a predator like a killer whale or shark looks up, is hard to separate from the sky.
To many who watch penguins swim, it appears almost as though they are "flying" through the water. Penguins are adept at swimming, and are among the most agile in the water.
One of the more familiar penguins, at least to older people who may have grown up on Woody Woodpecker cartoons on TV, is the penguin Chilly Willy. Strangely, the cartoon penguin lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, where no penguin would live outside a zoo.
At any rate, celebrate, formally if you will, National Penguin Awareness Day. They are among the most amazing birds around.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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