Penguins are known as some of the most adorable animals on the planet. Their fluffy fur coats alongside their friendly personalities make them super easy to adore. That being said, there are so many more reasons to love penguins, so here are 21 fun facts that you won’t believe about this species.
- The smallest species of penguin is the little blue penguin, they are between 13-15 inches in size.
- Penguins were originally labelled as ‘strange geese’ to those who first found them.
- The fastest of the penguin species, Gentoos, can swim at speeds of 10 miles per hour or more.
- Penguins don’t have any teeth.
- Penguins moult once per year, and this process can take between 2-3 weeks.
- Some penguins species mate for life, once they find their partner they stick with them for the rest of their lives.
- Emperor penguins, the largest of the penguins, can grow up to 4 feet tall.
- There was once a penguin that stood at 6.5 feet, and weighed more than 250 pounds.
- There are same- sex penguin couples
- The male emperor penguins incubate eggs while the female goes hunting.
- Penguins are carnivores.
- The deepest dive ever made by a penguin was more than 6000 feet underwater.
- The world’s oldest penguin is estimated to be 40 years old.
- There are five penguin species that are classified as endangered, this is the northern rockhopper penguin, the erect-crested penguin, the yellow-eyed penguin, the African penguin and the Galápagos penguin.
- There are penguin fossils that date back to 61 million years ago.
- Penguins are actually super friendly with people, they feel safer around tourists and researchers.
- Some penguins build pebble nests.
- Penguins huddle for warmth, this is so effective that the penguins on the inside of the huddle often get too hot and have to waddle their way out to the outskirts.
- Penguin chicks start out as fluffballs.
- Penguins have been at the centre of many popular movies, including happy feet and the penguins of Madagascar.
- A group of penguins in the water is called a raft.
