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Flightless and fearless -

Penguins are one of around 40 other species of flightless birds. Most types of flightless birds reside in the Southern Hemisphere, such as kiwis and ostriches.

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An endangered species -

Of the 17 species of penguins that currently exist, 13 of them are either endangered or critically endangered. Scientists estimate that by the end of the century, we could lose up to 70% of the current global penguin population.

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One in the same -

Most species of penguins all look alike, regardless of their gender. Unlike sexually dimorphic animals, male and female penguins rarely differ in size, color, or markings.

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In it for the long haul -

Most penguins mate for life, and will play equal roles in raising their young ones. However, both male and female penguins have been observed "cheating" on each other behind one another's back.

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Aquatic carnivores -

A penguin's diet consists mainly of fish and squid. They make for agile hunters in the freezing seas, and will sometimes feast on shrimps or crabs.

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The tuxedo serves a purpose -

The penguin's distinctive black back and white front utilize something called countershading. While penguins are swimming through the ocean, their dark backs help them to blend in with the deep water and hide from potential predators from above, and their white underbelly helps them hide in the light of the surface from any predators lurking below.

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Birds of the sea -

Penguins will spend most of their lives at sea. All of their hunting and playing happens in the water, and they only come to land to mate and molt.

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King penguins -

The king penguin is the second-largest species of penguin, just behind the emperor penguin. They can stand up to three feet (91 centimeters) tall, and, unlike most other penguins, are able to run relatively quickly on their feet, as opposed to the slow and clumsy waddle that plagues most other penguins.

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Born to waddle -

Most other penguins don't have the speedy capabilities that the king penguin does. Regardless of size, other species of penguins can usually only reach speeds of up to 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) per hour.

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Penguin weddings -

Zoos around the world have gotten into the habit of throwing penguin weddings for pairs that seem particularly fond of each other. In 2019, two male penguins named Ferrari and Pringle (not pictured) were married in the highly publicized and universally adored first gay penguin wedding.

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Cute little creches -

There are many words used to describe groups of penguins of different ages and in different situations. A group of young penguin chicks is called a "creche."

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Flightless since forever? -

Somewhere down the line, penguins did evolve from a species of bird capable of flight. The diversion process is thought to have begun around 65 million years ago, and there was most likely a transitional species that was able to both fly and utilize its wings for spectacular deep dives like modern penguins do.

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Healthy penguin lives -

Most penguins live up to around 20 years in the wild, if they're not caught by a seal or an orca. Most penguins will spend about 75% of their lives in the water.

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Growing into themselves -

Penguin chicks aren't born with the waterproof coat that keeps them from freezing in the Antarctic waters. Until their fluffy coats turn into sleek wetsuits, chicks must stay on the land and rely on their parents for food and warmth.

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Feathers for the weather -

Penguins have some of the thickest coats of feathers out of any other species of bird in the animal kingdom. The emperor penguin sits comfortable and cozy in first place, with nearly 100 feathers per square inch (6.5 per square centimeter).

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March of the penguins -

Most penguin species, like other birds, lay their eggs during the springtime. The emperor penguin, however, trudges through the harsh Antarctic wilderness to lay its eggs in the dead of winter.

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Picky eaters -

In 2022, a zoo in Japan tried to switch the type of fish fed to their resident penguins. It didn't go well. After the first smell of the new, lower-quality fish, the penguins quite literally turned their noses up and refused to eat until the new fish was at least partially mixed in with their preferred choice: aji mackerel.

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Speedy swimmers -

Penguins are the greatest swimmers of any bird species, and can cruise at a speed of up to six miles (9.6 kilometers) per hour. They are also able to produce boosts of speed that can propel them forwards at up to 15 miles (25 kilometers) per hour.

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Bubble power -

Scientists figured out that these bursts of speed are made possible by ruffling their feathers underwater, releasing bubbles that drastically decrease the penguin's viscosity in the water. Scientists have warmly named this tactic the "bubble boost."

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Soaring to new heights -

These bubble boosts allow penguins to shoot out of the water at high speeds and reach remarkable heights. This technique, called porpoising, is the same used by dolphins. Penguins' porpoising abilities allow them to jump nearly seven feet (two meters) out of the water.

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Short-flighted and short-sighted -

The eyes of penguins are optimized for underwater vision, where they can quickly spot and track fish, krill, and other prey. On land, however, scientists believe that penguins are hopelessly shortsighted.

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Prominent eyebrows -

The crested penguin, although one of the most distinctive species of penguins with their long, yellow eyebrows, is in fact one of the rarest. They are only found on one island off the coast of New Zealand, and have held a steady population of around 25,000 pairs for a few years now.

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Fairy penguins -

The smallest species of penguin is aptly named the little penguin, or, if you prefer, the fairy penguin. These tiny things only grow to a height of 16 inches (40.6 centimeters), weigh about two pounds (0.9 kilograms), and are found in the warmer climates of New Zealand and Australia.

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The king of kings -

Emperor penguins are the largest species of penguin, standing four feet (1.2 meters) high and weighing up to 100 pounds (45.3 kg). They are the only species of penguins found exclusively in Antarctica, and the only penguins that lay eggs during wintertime.

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Watchful fathers -

An Emperor penguin father must keep his egg warm throughout the wintertime, tucking it snuggly underneath his body and leaving the soon-to-be mother to go out for food. 

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Strength in numbers -

Emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica can be mindboggling in size, sometimes amounting to nearly 10s of thousands of penguins in the same place. Due to their poor eyesight, they rely on their powerful voices to find their partners and young ones.

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Hopeless romantics -

Different species of penguins have different mating rituals. King penguins sing love songs with each other, and if the harmonies are right, then so is the chemistry. Others, like the gentoo penguin (pictured), express their affection through gift-giving, and will shower their beloved with gifts of rocks and stones.

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Giant penguins -

Scientists have found evidence that there once existed a prehistoric megafauna species of penguin that could grow to be as tall and large as the average human being.

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Penguins in paradise -

While penguins are normally associated with icy, unforgiving winter climates, only two species of penguins live in Antarctica. Most live in the much warmer and sunnier climates of South America and Oceania.

Sources: (FactRetriever) (Facts) (CNN)

See also: Little-known facts about dogs that may surprise you

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