Do penguins lay eggs and do penguins have knees?
Answers:
Yes Penguins lay eggs
1. Eggs may be white to bluish or greenish. The shape varies among species. In Humboldts and Adélies the egg is more or less round. In emperors and kings the egg is rather pear-shaped, with one end tapering almost to a point.
2. Egg size and weight varies with species. From the records of SeaWorld's successful penguin breeding programs, emperor penguin eggs measure 11. 1 to 12.7 cm (4.4-5 in.) long and weigh 345 to 515 g (1 2.1-18 oz.), and Adélie penguin eggs measure 5.5 to 8.6 cm (2.2-3.4 in.) and weigh 61 to 153.5 g (2.1-5.4 oz.).
3. A nest of eggs is called a clutch, and with the exception of emperor and king penguins, clutches usually contain two eggs. (Emperor and king penguins lay a single egg. ) A clutch with more than one egg presents a better chance of at least one chick surviving (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
Penguins dont have knees.
1. Penguin legs are short and strong. Feet are webbed, with visible claws. The legs are set far back on the body to aid in streamlining and steering while swimming. This placement also causes penguins to stand vertically and walk upright (Marchant, 1990).
2. Penguins walk with short steps or hops, sometimes using their bills or tails to assist themselves on steep climbs (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). The maximum walking speed for Adélie penguins is 3.9 kph (2.4 mph). Emperors and kings walk slowly and do not hop. The maximum speed for emperors is 2.8 kph (1.7 mph). Some species, like the rockhopper, jump from rock to rock (Miller-Schwarze, 1984; del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
3. Antarctic species can move much faster over ice by "tobogganing" on their bellies, using their flippers and feet to help them move along (Simpson, 1976).
yes they do lay eggs but i don't think they have knees lol
Yes, they do lay eggs They must sit on the eggs for weeks in order for them to hatch.
I do not think they have knees.
Good question. :) :) :)
Penguins do indeed lay eggs; they generally incubate them by putting them on top of their feet, and keeping them next to a small area of the body that does not have feathers. As to knees - I would imagine their basic structure is the same (internally) as most other birds, with "knees" that bend opposite to those of human beings.
no they DONT lay eggs and they DONT have knees. are you serious about that question?
ask the almighty guru
yes they lay eggs and yes they have knees you can see them when the penguins jump out of the water
Penguins do lay eggs which are hatched by both parents alternately. Judging from pictures, I would say that Penguins do have knees but cannot confirm.
yes they lay eggs and as for knees they have them as well.
Yes, penguins lay eggs and the male nest them under their large bellies between their feet.
If you want to know all about penquins, I would suggest you see March of the Penquins. It is a most wonderful informative movie. Morgan Freeman is the spokesperson for this documentary which is very entertaining and delightful. You will have a new respect for penquins.
they do lay eggs but they do not have knees
Like most seabirds, penguins tend to be long-lived. They may take three to eight years to reach sexual maturity (Stonehouse, 1975).
2. With some of the smaller species, breeding may begin at three or four years, but most larger species are not accomplished breeders until much later. On average, breeding does not begin until the fifth year, and a few males do not breed until the eighth year (Simpson, 1976).
B. Mating activity
1 . Breeding seasons differ from species to species.
a. Most species have an annual breeding season - spring through summer (Marchant, 1990).
b. The king penguin has the longest breeding cycle of all the penguin species, lasting 14 to 16 months. A female king penguin may produce a chick twice in every three breeding seasons (Sparks and Soper, 1987; Marchant, 1990; del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
c. Emperor penguins breed annually during the antarctic winter, June through August (Sparks and Soper, 1987).
(1) During the emperor breeding season, air temperature may drop to -60°C (-76°F) and winds may reach speeds up to 200 kph (124 mph) (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
(2) For most of the winter, antarctic penguins live in an environment of darkness or half-light. Why emperors breed during the harshest season of the year is unknown, but some scientists speculate that when the chicks become independent five months later (in January or February, the antarctic summer), environmental conditions are more favorable for the young birds (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
d. The fairy penguin breeds throughout the year and has the shortest breeding cycle, about 50 days (Sparks and Soper, 1987).
e. Some of the temperate penguins, like the Humboldt and the African, tend to nest throughout the year (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
2. Courtship
a. Courtship varies among the species. It generally begins with both visual and auditory displays. In many species, males display first to establish a nest site and then to attract a mate.
b. Most penguin species are monogamous (one male breeds with one female during a mating season) (del Hoyo, et al., 1992); however, research has shown that some females may have one to three partners in one season and some males may have one or two partners (Davis and Speirs, 1990).
c. Mate selection is up to the female, and it is the females that compete for the males (Davis and Speirs, 1990).
d. A female usually selects the same male from the preceding season (Sparks and Soper, 1987). Adélie penguins have been documented re-pairing with the previous year's mate 62% of the time. Chinstraps re-paired in 82% of possible cases, and gentoos re-paired 90% of the time (Trivelpiece, 1990). In one study of Adélies, females paired with males within minutes of arriving at the colony (Davis and Speirs, 1990).
e. When a female selects a different mate it is usually because her mate from the previous season fails to return to the nesting area. Another reason may be mistiming in returning to the nesting area. If they arrive at different times and miss each other, one or the other penguin may obtain a new mate (Davis and Speirs, 1990).
C. Nesting
1. Nest site fidelity.
a. Studies have shown that most penguin species tend to be faithful to the same rookeries and return each year. Most penguins return to the same territory within the rookery (Sparks and Soper, 1987). Male Adélie penguins were 99% faithful to the previous year's territory, chinstraps were 94% faithful, and gentoos were 63% faithful (Trivelpiece, 1990).
b. Males arrive first to the rookeries to establish and defend their nesting sites. (Sparks and Soper, 1987). In a study on Adélie and chinstrap penguins, females arrived one day and five days after the males, respectively (Trivelpiece, 1990).
c. Some scientists believe that penguins build up numbers in a single rookery rather than colonize new areas because mature birds return to the rookery where they hatched when it is time to breed. Some penguin rookeries number millions of birds (Muller-Schwarze, 1984).
2. Nesting habitats vary among species (Marchant, 1990).
a. Emperor penguins form colonies around the shoreline of the antarctic continent and adjacent islands. They prefer sites on a fairly level surface of ice in areas sheltered from wind, with easy access to feeding areas (Sparks and Soper, 1987; Marchant, 1990).
b. King penguins nest and breed on subantarctic and antarctic islands. They prefer beaches and valleys of level ground or gentle slopes, free of snow and ice, and accessible to the sea (Marchant, 1990).
c. Adélies often nest 50 to 60 km (31.1-37.3 mi.) from the edge of the sea ice on the antarctic continent and nearby on rocky islands, peninsulas, beaches, hillsides, valleys, and other areas free of ice (Falla, 1937; Harrington, 1960; Johnstone, et al., 1973).
d. Gentoo penguin colonies can be inland or coastal on antarctic and subantarctic islands and peninsulas. They tend to breed on ice-free ground on beaches, in valleys, on inland hills, and on cliff tops (Murphy, 1947; Falla, 1937; Rand, 1954; Despin, 1972; White and Conroy, 1975; Robertson, 1986).
e. Chinstrap penguins nest on fairly steep slopes (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
f. Fiordland crested penguins nest in a wet, coastal rain forest habitat, under bushes, between tree roots, in holes, or in caves (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
g. Galapagos penguins nest in volcanic caves or cracks in rock (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
Some penguins, like these gentoos, construct nests of small stones.
h. The temperate penguins and the fairy penguin nest underground in burrows. These species breed in areas where the climate can range from tropical to subantarctic. Underground burrows provide an environment with a relatively constant temperature (about 25° to 29°C, or 70° to 84°F) for the eggs and chicks.
i. Humboldt penguins burrow and create nesting sites in guano (fecal) deposits (Scolaro).
3. Nesting materials vary from species to species and from location to location.
a. Adélies build nests of small stones. They are known to take stones from other Adélie nests. This stone-stealing behavior may be credited to the Adélies' nest-relieving display in which the returning penguin sometimes brings its mate a stone as a soothing gesture or greeting (Sparks and Soper, 1987).
b. Chinstrap penguins usually construct nests with perimeters of eight to ten stones, just enough to prevent eggs from rolling away (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
c. Gentoo penguins use nesting materials ranging from pebbles and molted feathers in Antarctica to vegetation on subantarctic islands. One medium-sized gentoo nest was composed of 1,700 pebbles and 70 molled tail feathers (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
d. Emperor and king penguins build no nests. They stand upright while incubating a single egg on the tops of their feet under a loose fold of abdominal skin. Under this loose fold is a featherless patch of skin called a broodpatch, which occurs in all incubating birds. The brood patch contains numerous blood vessels, that, when engorged with blood, transfer body heat to the eggs.
D. Eggs
1. Eggs may be white to bluish or greenish. The shape varies among species. In Humboldts and Adélies the egg is more or less round. In emperors and kings the egg is rather pear-shaped, with one end tapering almost to a point.
2. Egg size and weight varies with species. From the records of SeaWorld's successful penguin breeding programs, emperor penguin eggs measure 11. 1 to 12.7 cm (4.4-5 in.) long and weigh 345 to 515 g (1 2.1-18 oz.), and Adélie penguin eggs measure 5.5 to 8.6 cm (2.2-3.4 in.) and weigh 61 to 153.5 g (2.1-5.4 oz.).
3. A nest of eggs is called a clutch, and with the exception of emperor and king penguins, clutches usually contain two eggs. (Emperor and king penguins lay a single egg. ) A clutch with more than one egg presents a better chance of at least one chick surviving (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
a. In the Eudyptuia, Spheniscus, and Pygoscelis genera, the first-laid egg is generally larger than the second, and usually hatches first (except in the chinstrap species) (Lamey, 1990). Usually the first chick to hatch has the survival advantage since it will already have fed and will be larger by the time the second egg hatches (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). The second, usually smaller, chick cannot compete with the larger chick for food and usually perishes (Lamey, 1990).
b. In the Eudyptes genus, the second-laid egg and subsequent chick is usually the larger of the two. The second chick usually is the survivor. Researchers have yet to find an adequate theoretical explanation for this reversed pattern (Davis and Darby, 1990).
c. The chinstrap and yellow-eyed species usually lay two eggs. Parents typically raise both chicks, which are nearly equal in size (Davis and Darby, 1990).
Size
1. The emperor penguin is the largest of all living penguins, standing 1.1 m (3.7 ft.) and weighing 27 to 41 kg (60-90 lb.).
2. The smallest of the penguins is the fairy penguin, standing just 41 cm (16 in.) and weighing about 1 kg (2.2 lb.). For a complete listing of sizes by species, see the Appendix.
B. Body shape
1 .The penguin body is fusiform and streamlined, adapted for swimming (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). A penguin has a large head, short neck, and elongated body.
2. The tail is short and wedge-shaped (Marchant, 1990).
3. The legs and webbed feet are set far back on the body, which causes penguins to stand upright when on land (Marchant, 1990).
C. Coloration
1. All adult penguins are countershaded; that is they are dark on their dorsal (back) surfaces and white on their ventral (underside) surfaces. The dark dorsal side blends in with the dark ocean depths when viewed from above. The light ventral side blends in with the lighter surface of the sea when viewed from below. The result is that predators or prey do not see a contrast between the countershaded animal and the environment.
2. Many species have distinct markings and coloration.
a. The emperor has a black head, chin, and throat with broad yellow ear patches on the sides of the head (Marchant, 1990).
b. The king penguin has a black head, chin, and throat with vivid orange, tear-shaped ear patches. The orange coloration extends to the upper chest (Marchant, 1990).
c. The Adélie has a black head. Distinctive white eye rings appear during the breeding season (Marchant, 1990).
d. The gentoo has a black head with white eyelids, and a distinct triangular white patch above each eye, usually extending over the head (Marchant, 1990).
e. The top of a chinstrap's head is black and the face is white, with a stripe of black extending under the chin.
f. The crested penguins (genus Eudyptes), such as the rockhopper and macaroni, are distinguished by orange or yellow feather crests on the sides of the head, above the eyes.
g. The yellow-eyed penguin, as its name suggests, has yellow eyes and a stripe of pale yellow feathers extending over its dark head.
h. The fairy penguin, also known as the little blue, has slate-blue to black feathers and a white chin and chest.
i. Temperate penguins (genus Spheniscus), such as the Humboldt and Magellanic, have unfeathered fleshy areas on the face and one or two distinct black stripes across the chest.
3. Chicks, juveniles, and immature penguins may have slightly different markings than adults. Generally, they appear more drab. Adult markings take a year or longer to develop.
Adult penguins are countershaded; that is they are dark on their dorsal (back) surfaces and white on their ventral (underside) surfaces. Picture here are Adélie penguins.
D. Flippers
Wings are modified into paddlelike flippers. The bones are much flattened and, broadened, with the joint of elbow and wrist almost fused. This forms a rigid, tapered, and flat flipper for swimming (Marchant, 1990). Each flipper is covered with short, scale-like feathers. The long wing feathers typical of most birds would be too flexible for swimming through water (Sparks and Soper, 1987).
E. Head
1 . Different species of penguins can be identified by their head and facial markings.
2. Penguins have a variety of bill shapes which are used to capture fish, squid, and crustaceans. Generally, the bill tends to be long and thin in species that are primarily fish eaters, but shorter and stouter in those that mainly feed on krill (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). The mouth is lined with horny, rear-directed spines to aid in swallowing live prey (Marchant, 1990).
3. Eyes.
a. The color of irises varies among the species.
(1) Many species have brown, reddish-brown, or golden-brown eyes.
(2) Rockhopper and macaroni penguins have red eyes.
(3) Fairy (little blue) penguins have bluish-gray eyes.
(4) As their name implies, yellow-eyed penguins have yellow eyes (Marchant, 1990).
b. The pupil of a penguin eye is circular. When constricted, however, the pupil of the king penguin is square (Welty, 1982).
c. Like many animals, penguins have a nictitating membrane, sometimes called a third eyelid. This is a clear covering that protects the eye from injury.
F. Legs and feet
1. Penguin legs are short and strong. Feet are webbed, with visible claws. The legs are set far back on the body to aid in streamlining and steering while swimming. This placement also causes penguins to stand vertically and walk upright (Marchant, 1990).
2. Penguins walk with short steps or hops, sometimes using their bills or tails to assist themselves on steep climbs (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). The maximum walking speed for Adélie penguins is 3.9 kph (2.4 mph). Emperors and kings walk slowly and do not hop. The maximum speed for emperors is 2.8 kph (1.7 mph). Some species, like the rockhopper, jump from rock to rock (Miller-Schwarze, 1984; del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
3. Antarctic species can move much faster over ice by "tobogganing" on their bellies, using their flippers and feet to help them move along (Simpson, 1976).
G. Tail
The tail is short and wedge-shaped, with 14 to 18 stiff tail feathers. Members of the genus Pygoscelis have longer tail feathers, which they often use as a prop when on land (Marchant, 1990).
Shiny, waterproof feathers overlap to cover a penguin's skin.
H. Feathers
1. Shiny feathers uniformly overlap to cover a penguin's skin (del Hoyo, et al., 1992). Feathers are highly specialized-short, broad, and closely spaced, helping to keep water away from the skin. Tufts of down on the feather shafts contribute to the insulative properties of the feathers.
2. Penguins have more feathers than most other birds, with about 70 feathers per square inch.
3. Most penguin species go through one complete molt (shed their feathers) each year, usually after the breeding season. The exception is the Galapagos penguin, which usually goes through two molts annually (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
a. Molting is an essential function, as feathers wear out during the year. Feathers become worn when penguins rub against each other, come in contact with the ground and water, and regularly preen (clean, rearrange, and oil) their feathers (Sparks and Soper, 1987).
b. The new feather grows under the old one, pushing it out. The old feather does not fall out until the new one is completely in place. The molt is patchy and can give individual penguins a scruffy look (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
c. During the molt, feathers lose some of their insulating and waterproofing capabilities, and penguins stay out of the water until their plumage is restored to optimum condition (del Hoyo, et al., 1992; Sparks and Soper, 1987).
d. Depending on the species, the average length of the molt varies from 13 days for the Galapagos penguin to 34 for the emperor penguin (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
e. Because penguins don't enter the water to feed during a molt, they fast. Before their molt, they build a fat layer, which provides energy until the molt is over (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
1 . Generally, penguins are not sexually dimorphic; males and females look alike. Crested penguins are exceptions: the males are more robust and have larger bills (del Hoyo, et al., 1992).
2. During the breeding season, female penguins are sometimes identifiable by muddy footprints on their backs, left by males during mating activity.
Most penguin species go through one complete molt each year, usually after the breeding season. During molting, new feathers push out and replace old ones, giving the molting penguin a scruffy appearance.
yes and yes
"Yes. Penguins appear to have very short legs and no knees because only the lower leg is externally visible. Their knees and upper legs are feather covered, hiding them from view. This also means that penguins never get cold knees! " --http://www.penguin.net.nz/faq/faq.html.
Do penguins reproduce by laying eggs?
"Pretty much in the same way that all other birds reproduce - the female is mounted by the male and sperm passed from cloaca to cloaca. The egg is fertilized at ovulation, but yolk development starts 14-17 days before this. After that the alumen (white) and shell are added and the egg moves down the oviduct. In all it takes around 23 days. The second egg is laid after 3-4 days." --http://www.penguin.net.nz/faq/faq4.html.
eggs yes. knees don't know!
hee hee hee, good question tho.
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