Penguins appeal to the kid in all of us as the waddle across the ice in their tiny tuxedos. But the image you have of penguins may not always be accurate.
Some penguins, such as the South African Penguin, never see snow or ice. They live along the African shoreline and swim out to the cold Benguela Current to feed. The Benguela Current carries nutrient-rich water from the south pole that provides sardines, squid, mackerel and crustaceans for the penguin's dinner.
Penguins communicate by using their head and flippers to talk to each other in a kind of sign language for penguins. Although you may not understand what they are saying, other penguins do.
Penguins are the only bird that cannot fly. They use their wings as paddles when they swim through the water. On land, all penguins can do is waddle from place to place, unless the decide to slide on their belly.
Penguins really do enjoy sliding and sometimes spend hours sliding down slippery ice and snow. Although they sometimes use sliding as a quick way to get away, most of the time it is used for playing.
Penguins appear to waddle because they have short legs and don't have any knees. The penguin must move his whole leg and take short steps in order to walk.
Penguins are found in the Southern Hemisphere, with most penguins living in the Antarctic Circle near the South Pole. Penguins do not live at the North Pole.
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