What is the Spheniscidae family?
Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are an order of flightless birds living in the southern hemisphere. They are not, contrary to popular belief, only found in cold climates, such as Antarctica.
What did penguins evolve from?
It is believed that the penguins are derived from a type of bird that is able to fly. Somehow, the first ancestors of penguins are related to flying birds, but the truth is that modern penguins did evolve from non-flying birds; That’s the difference.
Which penguin is named after Magellan?
Magellanic Penguins
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 mid-1500s through what is now called the Strait of Magellan.
What do Spheniscidae have in common?
Both have black and white plumage, and red-orange to yellow patches on head sides and upper breast. They have two-tone bills and black legs and feet. They dive and forage in deep waters and during several minutes. Both have circumpolar distribution.
What are the characteristics of the Spheniscidae family?
They range in size from 1.5-3.7 feet in height. They are black or dark gray with white chests and stomachs. They have stiff, flipper-like wings; long bills; short legs; and webbed feet. Their legs are set back on their bodies, and penguins have a unique waddling walk!
What is a penguin family called?
A group of penguins is called a colony, a rookery or a Waddle, but these terms are for a group of penguins on land. A group of penguins floating in the ocean is called a raft.
Do people eat penguins?
So can you eat penguins? Legally you cannot eat penguins in most countries because of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. People such as explorers did used to eat them, so it is possible. If you did choose to eat a penguin or it’s eggs, they would generally taste quite fishy!
Is there a Magellan penguin?
This flightless seabird can be found on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the continent, mainly in Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. One of 18 penguin species, the Magellanic penguin is known for its black body and white belly, countershading that helps it avoid predators while swimming.