Are penguins birds or animals? A familiar question, right? And that is understandable. Each of us either asked this question in childhood, or heard it from our children. Admittedly, not everyone knows the answer. So who are these amazing and important handsome penguins? Are these birds? Or animals? Or maybe it's fish?
A bit of history
For the first time, Europeans noticed these amazing creatures in 1499. One of the companions of the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama left a record describing strange birds that looked like geese, “with a cry reminiscent of the cries of donkeys ... They could not fly ... "Probably, they were also tormented by the question:" Penguins are birds or animals? "
After 12 years, a similar record was made by a member of the expedition of Magellan, the Italian Antonio Pigafetta. He wrote: "Strange geese, holding upright, unable to fly, very fat ..." Actually, due to their fatness, the birds got their first name. The fact is that “pigvis” in Latin means “fat”. The scientific name "sphiniscus demersus" (translated as "a small wedge immersed in water") was given to the birds much later - in 1758. The new name became a brief description, emphasizing both the shape of the birds and their lifestyle.
If we talk about the very first meeting of penguins with people, then it probably took place in Australia. It turns out that during archaeological excavations in the ancient sites found the bones of these birds. Scientists suggest that penguin meat was in the diet of Australian Aborigines.
Short description
And yet ... Are penguins birds or animals? Any encyclopedia gives a clear answer to this question. Spheniscidae is a family of marine flightless, but well-swimming and diving birds.
The only representatives of the penguin order. The family has 20 subspecies. The body of the penguins streamlined, adapted for movement in the water. Thanks to the musculature and the arrangement of the bones, these birds swim perfectly, while the wings play the role of speed-boosting screws. The sternum has developed musculature, accounting for about a quarter of the total weight, and a pronounced keel.
The thighs are quite short, the knee joints are motionless, the legs are shifted back (the reason for such a strange and funny gait). Feet are large, short, with swimming membranes. The tail is very shortened, acts as a support on land. The "steering" when swimming is primarily paws. The color of the penguins is characteristic: a black "tailcoat" and a white tummy.
Why can't a penguin be called a fish?
This is another frequently asked question: “Is the penguin a bird or a fish?” For some, the question will seem ridiculous, but since it takes place, let's try to figure it out. In fact, if a penguin feels great under water, why not call it a fish? Firstly, because in this environment he only hunts. But the penguin lives on land. There he hatches eggs (he does not spawn like fish), he brings up offspring. Another important difference is the presence of feathers (very small, tight-fitting, evenly distributed over a thick fat layer). In addition, penguins are warm-blooded. True, they have their own heat transfer system, special and in some ways unique. Her "motor" is in the wings and legs. Arterial blood entering them gives off heat to the venous (colder), and that, in turn, flows to the body (back). Heat losses in this way are minimal.
Food
The basis of the penguin's menu is Antarctic silverfish, anchovy, sardines and crustaceans. They eat part directly under water, the rest - on land. Species that feed mainly on crustaceans have to spend a lot more energy on prey. To replenish the energy costs for only one dive, they must catch about two dozen crustaceans. Penguins that feed mainly on fish are much easier - one out of ten successful dives is enough for them. The duration of hunting for each species is different and largely depends on the season. For example, emperor penguins can do more than 800 dives. But in the period of molting and waiting for offspring, birds have to refuse food altogether. About half of the mass is lost during this time. Penguins drink mainly sea water. Special glands located near the eyes remove excess salt.
Breeding
Why can't the claim that the penguin is an animal be true? Evidence that this is a bird has already been cited. As a new argument, let's look at the reproduction process. To begin with, penguins are not viviparous; they hatch eggs, like all birds. They nest in colonies, tens of thousands of pairs. Both parents are responsible for incubating eggs and raising babies, who periodically replace each other.
The claim that the penguin is a mammal disproves the way of feeding. The chicks do not feed on milk, but on semi-digested fish and crustaceans that their parents belch. In the lower folds of the abdomen, the kids “dive” in order to hide from the cold, and not for the sake of a serving of milk, as some say.
The onset of maturity depends on the gender and type of birds. In some, mating is possible in two years (small, subantarctic), in others - a year later (Antarctic, imperial, royal), in others - only after five years (golden-haired).