World Penguin Day: 9 facts about penguins

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s World Penguin Day! A trio of Magellanic penguins celebrated the special day by waddling around SeaWorld Orlando.

In honor of the day, here are nine facts about penguins:

1. There are 18 species of penguins and they all live in the Southern Hemisphere, according to SeaWorld.

2. Penguins generally live on islands and remote continental regions free from land predators, where their inability to fly is not detrimental to their survival, SeaWorld said.

3. Penguins are able to see clearly both in air and underwater. They have binocular vision and are able to see in color.

3. Scientists have recognized at least 40 species of extinct penguins.

SeaWorld said: “Scientists believe that penguins diverged from flying birds at least 60 to 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period. As the ancestors of penguins became adapted to an oceanic environment, structural changes for diving and swimming led to the loss of flying adaptations.”

4. Penguins eat krill, squids and fish.

5. Penguins catch prey with their bills and swallow it whole while swimming. A penguin has a spiny tongue and powerful jaws to grip slippery prey, SeaWorld said.

6. According to SeaWorld, penguins go through annual fasting periods. Prior to fasting, they build up a fat layer, which provides energy. The king and emperor penguins have the longest fasting periods.

7. Penguins can live approximately 15 to 20 years. Some can even live longer.

8. During breeding season, penguins come ashore and nest in colonies called rookeries. Some rookeries include hundreds of thousands of penguins.

9. When hatching, chicks begin poking a small hole in the egg and then chip at the shell until they can push off the top. SeaWorld said chicks take up to three days to chip their way out.

To learn more about penguins, click here.

© 2020 Cox Media Group