Emperor Penguins
Emperor penguins live in Antarctica, and are the
only animals that can survive winter on the
Antarctic ice.
Emperor penguins are carnivores.
They hunt in the sea for fish and squid.
Emperor penguins have shiny, waterproof
feathers that keep their skin dry.
The dark colour on their backs absorbs heat
from the sun.
Underneath their feathers, they have thick
skin and a layer of fat (called 'blubber') that helps to keep them warm.
They have strong claws on their feet for gripping
the ice.
When blizzards (snow storms) make Antarctica
feel even colder than usual, emperor penguins
huddle together to keep warm. They take turns to
move to the inside of the huddle, where they are
protected from the freezing temperatures by their
fellow penguins.
Penguin eggs and chicks sit on their
parents' feet, and are kept warm by a
'brood pouch' - a very warm layer of
skin and feathers that protects them
from the cold.
If a young chick were to fall out of its brood pouch, it
could freeze to death in less than 2 minutes.