Penguins’ Survival Secrets – Scientists Uncover Bizarre 4-Second Sleep Strategy
In the wild chinstrap penguins engage in a unique sleep pattern, obtaining more than 11 hours of rest each day– but not all at once….
Penguin News
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds primarily living in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Known for their distinctive black and white plumage, penguins are highly adapted to life in the water. Their wings have evolved into flippers used for powerful swimming, while their bodies are streamlined for efficient movement in water. Penguins feed on krill, fish, and squid, which they catch while swimming underwater. They are also known for their social behavior, often breeding in large colonies; some species engage in fascinating mating rituals like singing and intricate dances. Penguins’ survival is threatened by several factors, including climate change, which affects ice patterns and food availability, oil spills, and fishing, leading to habitat degradation and food scarcity. Conservation efforts are vital for maintaining their populations and ensuring the survival of these charismatic creatures.
Antarctic Sea Ice Crisis: Emperor Penguin Colonies Suffer Catastrophic Breeding Failure
Emperor penguin colonies experienced unprecedented breeding failure in a region of Antarctica where there was total sea ice loss in 2022. The discovery supports predictions…
On Thinning Ice: Emperor Penguins Face Breeding Meltdown in Antarctica
Due to unprecedented sea ice loss from climate change, four out of five emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica faced significant breeding failure in 2022. Four…
New Species Discovered: The Largest Penguin That Ever Lived
Fossil bones from two newly-described penguin species, one of them thought to be the largest penguin to ever live – weighing more than 340 pounds,…
Giant Waikato Penguin: School Kids in New Zealand Discover New Species
A giant fossilized penguin discovered by New Zealand school children has been revealed as a new species in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology by Massey University…
How a Network of Marine Protected Areas Could Help Safeguard Antarctic Penguins
New research led by BirdLife International, the University of East Anglia (UEA) and British Antarctic Survey highlights how a proposed network of marine protected areas…
Scientists Say Gentoo Penguins Are Four Species, Not One
First analysis combining genetic and physical differences of populations of gentoo penguins indicates they should be treated as four separate species. Gentoo penguins should be…
Penguin Poo Is a Clue: Discovering New Penguin Colonies From Space
Satellite images have revealed that there are nearly 20% more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than previously thought. Scientists, at the British Antarctic Survey, have…
New Zealand’s Ancient Monster Penguins Had Doppelgangers in Japan, the USA and Canada
New Zealand’s monster penguins that lived 62 million years ago had doppelgangers in Japan, the USA and Canada, a study published today in the Journal…
Researchers Shocked to Find Antarctic Penguins Much Happier With Less Sea Ice
Researchers have been surprised to find that Adélie penguins in Antarctica prefer reduced sea-ice conditions, not just a little bit, but a lot. As climate…
Remarkable Fossil of Extinct Giant Penguin Species Discovered in New Zealand
A new sphenisciform fossil from the north island of New Zealand further resolves the bauplan of extinct giant penguins. Penguins are descendants of seabirds that…
Emperor Penguins Marching Towards Extinction Unless Warming Is Slowed
Emperor penguins are some of the most striking and charismatic animals on Earth, but a new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has…
Emperor Penguins Are Threatened – Study Recommends Special Protection
In a new study published yesterday (October 8, 2019) in the journal Biological Conservation, an international team of researchers recommends the need for additional measures…
March of the Multiple Penguin Genomes – Extensive Study Provides Unparalleled Information
The Penguin Genome Consortium sequences all living penguin species genomes to understand the evolution of life on the ice. An article that presents the first…
Satellite Observations Provide Scientists With Unique Insights on Adélie Penguin
Using satellite observations of Antarctica to search for penguin guano (poo) may not sound like the most exciting research, but it’s providing scientists with unique…
Scientists Discover “Supercolony” of Adelie Penguins in the Danger Islands
For the past 40 years, the total number of Adélie Penguins, one of the most common on the Antarctic Peninsula, has been steadily declining—or so…
New Emperor Penguin Colonies Discovered in Antarctica
Scientists observed two new colonies totaling 6,000 emperor penguin chicks near Mertz Glacier in Antarctica, raising the estimated population in this area to about threefold…
Giant Oligocene Kairuku Penguins Stood Nearly Five Feet Tall
Paleontologists have reconstructed a model of the Kairuku penguin that stood almost 4 feet 6 inches (1.46 meters) in height in what’s now New Zealand….