1. The emperor penguin breeds at -60°C

Emperor penguins reproduce at -60°C, a feature that is simply unthinkable for any other species.

This flightless bird is endemic to Antarctica, where the average temperature in Antarctica consistently hovers around -30°C, and the lowest temperature ever recorded in its natural habitat was -89.2°C.

Even more surprisingly, emperor penguins spend the entirety of the long winter months in Antarctica on the ice, totally exposed to the elements.

The females give birth to their offspring in the heart of this icy territory before entrusting it to their male partners.

They then embark on a hunting expedition that will last two months, over more than 80 km.

The females return once their bellies are filled up to the esophagus with fish,

of crustaceans and other sea creatures.

Hopefully, the male penguin will not starve to death and the baby bird that survives the harsh environment, although starved, will be unharmed.

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2. Little penguin is 33 cm tall

On average, penguins measure between 60 and 90 cm.

The little penguin, on the other hand, reaches a maximum of 33 cm as an adult.

Called little blue penguin because of its coat, it weighs a maximum of 1.5 kg, which gives it its adorable silhouette.


3. They can drink salt water

Another unique evolutionary characteristic of penguins is their ability to drink salt water without negative side effects.

Humans and most other land animals cannot ingest ocean water due to its high salt content.

Penguins have a special supraorbital gland that removes salt intake from the blood, allowing them to quench their thirst as with fresh water.

The filtered salt, once extracted and removed from the animal's bloodstream, is eventually excreted as a concentrated liquid through the penguin's nasal passages.


4. They can't breathe underwater.

Although they spend most of their time there, penguins cannot breathe underwater.

The depth and duration of their dives are entirely dependent on the species.

For example, small penguins dive only 60 m and stay under water for 1 minute.

The emperor, on the other hand, can dive to 565m and stay there for about 20 minutes.


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