Pinguin

Pinguin, or penguin, is a group of flightless seabirds in the family Spheniscidae. They are adapted to life in the ocean, with waterproof feathers, a thick layer of fat, and wings reduced to flippers for underwater propulsion. Most species have a black back and white belly, a pattern known as counter-shading that helps camouflage them while swimming. Size ranges from the small little penguin (about 30–40 cm tall) to the emperor penguin (up to about 1.2 m and over 40 kg).

Distribution and habitat: Penguins occur mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. They breed on Antarctica and subantarctic islands, along the coasts of South America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and one species, the Galápagos penguin, lives near the equator.

Diet and behavior: Penguins feed mainly on krill, small fish, and squid, captured while swimming underwater. They are highly social and typically nest in large colonies. Reproduction varies by species: most lay one or two eggs per year; incubation and chick rearing are shared to some extent by both parents, though in some species the male or female shoulders more of the duty.

Conservation: Population trends differ by species. Threats include climate change and resulting changes in prey distribution, overfishing, habitat loss, introduced predators on breeding sites, and pollution. Several species are listed as threatened or endangered, prompting protective measures such as habitat protection, fisheries management, predator control, and monitoring of colonies.