Penguins have existed on Earth for more than 50 million years, and over that time they have adapted to living in many regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Magellanic Penguins were named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean in the mids through what is now called the Strait of Magellan. A temperate species, Magellanic Penguins are usually about two to two-and-a-half feet tall and weigh between six and fifteen pounds when fully grown.
Penguins are birds, and they have feathers and lay eggs. But unlike most other birds, they cannot fly. While flying birds are lightweight, penguins have thick, heavy bones, allowing them to dive and swim underwater. The torpedo-like shape of their bodies and their feathers help them swim rapidly. They have three hundred times more feathers than flying birds of the same size, with a layer of down that traps air for insulation and an outer layer of feathers that can lock together to form a water-tight covering.
They spend up to three hours a day preening to ensure that the feathers are clean. Special thanks to P. Dee Boersma for her scientific expertise in reviewing this article.
Profile of a Magellanic Penguin showing its stripes. Aquarium of the Pacific. So why are penguins black and white? This adaptation is a kind of camouflaging called counter-shading, which makes it harder for both their predators and their prey to see them.
When penguins are in the water, their white chests camouflage them from being seen from below against the lighter sky. From above, their black backs help them blend in with the darker blue ocean waters. Penguins in burrows P. Dee Boersma - penguinstudies.
Magellanic Penguin These timid feather-shedders are named after the famed Portuguese explorer whose crew spotted them in Magellanic Penguin cruises. Region: Antarctica Destinations: Falkland Islands. Name : Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus Height: 60 to 75 cm. Weight : 2. Location : South America. Conservation status : Near Threatened. Diet : Cuttlefish, squid, krill, other crustaceans. How do Magellanic Penguins feed?
Are Magellanic Penguins social? How fast do Magellanic Penguins swim? Magellanic Penguins can swim at almost 25km per hour. What are Magellanic Penguin mating rituals like? How long do Magellanic Penguins live? Magellanic Penguins live an average of 25 years in the wild.
How many Magellanic Penguins are there today? Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Magazine How one image captures 21 hours of a volcanic eruption. Science Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. Science The controversial sale of 'Big John,' the world's largest Triceratops.
Science Coronavirus Coverage How antivirals may change the course of the pandemic. Science Coronavirus Coverage U. Travel A road trip in Burgundy reveals far more than fine wine.
Travel My Hometown In L. Travel The last artists crafting a Thai royal treasure. Subscriber Exclusive Content. Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars? How viruses shape our world. The era of greyhound racing in the U. See how people have imagined life on Mars through history. See More. Many individuals live to be 20 years old, and some have lived as long as 30 years.
A census performed in estimated that 1. Magellanic penguins are migratory, some birds moving as far north as Peru and Brazil in winter. Not globally threatened. Population estimated at 1,, pairs. Magellanic penguins are among the many species of penguin facing serious threats to their survival, including chronic oil pollution and climate change.
What is the Magellanic penguin?
0コメント