Emperor Penguins Are Phenomenal! Quiz

Answer: True

There are 17-20 (the number is debated among scientists) different species of penguins, and the emperor penguin is the largest living species, both in height and weight. Like all other species of penguins, the emperor is flightless; rather than wings it has flippers that help it move through the water.

The smallest living species of penguin is the little blue penguin, which is also called the fairy penguin.

Answer: Antarctica

While most species of penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, the emperor penguin is the only species that actually breeds on the stable ice near the coast during the frigid winter in Antarctica. When possible, emperor penguins will use ice cliffs and icebergs for shelter from the brutal cold.

In 2009 a population of about 550,000 birds comprised 46 known colonies in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic; about 35% of the population lived above the Antarctic Circle.

Answer: Fish

While fish isn't the only food on an emperor penguin's menu, it is the favorite. Emperor penguins especially like Antarctic silverfish, but will eat others found as well. If the fish hunt isn't especially successful, krill or squid will also suit. food is found either in the open water or in cracks in the pack ice.

Answer: The male is the one balancing the egg on his feet.

Because the emperor penguin breeds on the frozen Antarctic tundra, special care must be taken with the one egg, which is laid in May or June. While the egg isn't very large in comparison to the body weight of the emperor penguin, laying it takes a lot out of the female. She hands it over to the male for incubation and leaves for the next two months to eat! Transferring the egg from female to male is difficult; if it is dropped the chick embryo typically dies, unable to withstand the freezing conditions.

Believe it or not, aside from their behaviors during breeding season, it is difficult to distinguish between a male and female emperor penguin.

Answer: They whistle.

After the mother emperor penguin returns from several weeks of feeding, the male leaves in order to eat and regain his body fat. Then both parents take care of the chick, foraging for food and bringing it back. The male and female will stay faithful with just one mate for each breeding season. Because there are no fixed nests, they rely on vocal calls, which can be very complex, to identify and locate each other. When a chick is hungry or wants its parents it will whistle.

Chicks peep, owls hoot, and donkeys bray.

Answer: They huddle in groups.

The males are left to worry about the coldest weather on their own! During the time the female mate leaves to feed after her egg is laid, the males are in a risky situation. The egg must stay on their feet or covered up, and they cannot really feed.

In fact, they go about four months during the entire courting and breeding season without eating. And - this all happens during the coldest time of the year! To conserve energy, the males will huddle in groups, taking turns being on both the inside and the outside.

It is estimated that by huddling the males conserve about half of the fat that they must burn in order to stay alive. It is common for thousands of penguins to huddle together.

Answer: Brood Pouch

Male emperor penguins have a brood pouch that is located right above their feet. It is used to help incubate the egg and keep it warm, and is described as being a layer of feathered skin. Eggs hatch in about two months. The hatching of the egg coincides with the return of the mother, who has eaten and has food to regurgitate for the nestling.

Then it is the father's turn to go eat. After the male returns in about a month's time, the parents take care of their chick together. If both parents are looking for food, the chicks will group to form a crèche, huddling together to stay warm.

Answer: False

Because they live in a polar region, the emperor penguin must deal with a couple of weeks each year with complete sunlight (June) and complete darkness (December); they may be active in either the day or the night. When their breeding cycle is complete, adults spend about three months of the year in the ocean until they return and begin their mating and breeding ritual once again.

The previous season's chicks are now on their own. When they are looking for food, the emperor penguin may swim as far away as 300 miles from their colony.

Answer: Tobogganing

It must also be noted that the feet and legs of the emperor penguin are more suited to swimming than walking. Waddling is a very slow process (maybe two miles per hour), but it enables them to conserve their energy. They can really move faster by tobogganing on their stomachs, but conditions must be perfect in order for this to happen; the snow must be soft, powdery and not too deep.

While tobogganing, the emperor penguin uses his feet and flippers to steer and brake. Although he can move faster this way, it takes a toll on his plumage.

Answer: Leopard seals and orcas

Chicks have many more potential predators than adult emperor penguins. Birds, like petrels, prey on defenseless chicks and may also scavenge on the dead bodies of adults. When they stay on the ice, adults are generally safe. When it is time to forage in the water for food, however, leopard seals and orcas, or killer whales, pose the biggest threat to nestlings and adults.