Penguins

Penguins are aquatic, flightless birds highly adapted for life in the water, with their distinct tuxedo-like black and white plumage and flippers. While they spend about half of their time on land and half in the sea, their lives are spent near water. Penguins are found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with only the Galápagos penguin living north of the Equator. The largest species, the emperor penguin, stands about 1.1 meters tall, while the smallest, the little blue or fairy penguin, is around 30 cm tall. These birds primarily feed on seafood like krill, fish, and squid. Penguins have a range of adaptations for their aquatic lifestyle, including a spiny tongue for holding slippery prey. They're also countershaded for camouflage, with white underparts and darker upper surfaces to protect against predators from above and below in the water. Their wings have evolved into flippers used for swimming rather than flying. Penguins can regulate their body temperature with a layer of insulating feathers, and when on land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. Penguins are social birds, often breeding in large colonies, and their conservation statuses vary from Least Concern to Endangered due to declining populations in many species.