Paws For This Week’s Animal Facts: WARNING This Article May Cause Immediate Need To Watch Happy Feet

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Ellie Dunn
Dec 15, 2021 1:00 PM EST

You got that right ladies and gentlemen. It's December, which means the winter animals are coming out in full force for our weekly posts. Let's see, we've already hit polar bears, so naturally it's the animal on the opposite poles turn. Yes, you read that right. Penguins are from the south pole, and contrary to popular belief will never get to meet their furry friends. Get your tuxedo to match, because today is all about penguins!

Typically when thinking about these flightless birds, the arctic "March Of The Penguins" type comes to mind. What a shame we forget that there are MANY species of penguins who live in the tropics?! Ok, maybe you don't but I definitely do, and that's why I wrote this article this week! All different species of penguins have had to adapt from the original bird in their own ways. Get ready to learn!

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    Bird - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER A A group of penguins in the water is called a raft but on land, they're called a waddle.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 02
    Bird - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER The black and white "tuxedo" look worn by most penguin species is a clever camouflage called countershading.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger

    What's black and white and red all over? A sunburned penguin. Aw man, I thought they looked like that because they were constantly going to fancy dinner parties. Well the good news is if they are ever invited to a fancy dinner party, they don't have to buy anything! 

  • 03
    King penguin - Penguins huddle together to protect themselves from predators and in frigid habitats, huddling helps retain warmth. ANMAS URGER
    via I Can Has Cheezburger

    Did you know that it's typically the male penguins in these huddles? And, they rotate who stands on the inside and the outside so everyone has a turn for the warmth. Additionally, they do ALL of this while holding their mates eggs on their feet under the fat bellies. Talk about a Dad Boss!

  • 04
    Water - While most birds have hollow bones to facilitate flight, penguins have dense skeletons for easier diving, swimming, and remaining underground. ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 05
    Bird - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER. Penguins have a gland near their tail that produces water-proof oil. They spend several hours each day covering their feathers with this oil to keep them warm.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 06
    Water - Penguins live in many locations and habitats like Antarctica and Antarctic islands, the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, South Africa, New Zealand, ICANHAS Australia, Peru, CHEEZ BURGER and Chile.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 07
    Penguin - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER. Contrary to many popular holiday cartoons, you'll never see penguins and polar bears together in the wild. They live on opposite sides of the equator.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 08
    Water - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER. Penguins can swim at speeds up to 10 mph.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 09
    Bird - Some species of penguins march up to about 60 miles across the sea ice to get to their breeding grounds. ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 10
    Bird - Many male penguins gift female penguins with rocks in order to woo them, and the females use them to build their nests. NANHAS HELZS BURGER
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 11
    Bird - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER Recently discovered fossils indicate that an ancient breed of penguins once stood taller than the average adult man today at 5-foot-10.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 12
    Bird - ICANHAS CHEE BURGER. Penguins don't have teeth but use fleshy spines inside their mouths to help them swallow fish.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger
  • 13
    Penguin - ICANHAS CHEEZ BURGER. Some penguin species mate for life and use unique sounds to help them locate each other on the breeding ground.
    via I Can Has Cheezburger

    Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Then you're in luck because we're now on Instagram! 

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cool facts birds penguins interesting acting like animals penguin animals fun facts
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