Emperor Penguin's Habitat
The Emperor penguins habitat is limited to the Antarctic and the surrounding sea, and unlike many other penguin species the Emperor penguins can rarely be found anywhere else in the world (unless they have been transported by man)
- Red: areas where the Emperor Penguin lives.
- Green: areas where the Emperor Penguin breeds
Classification of the Emperor Penguin:
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscida
Description of the Emperor Penguin
The upright body posture and mostly black-and-white coloration makes penguins easy to distinguish from other birds. As with other marine animals, penguins have a fusiform (tapered) shape. The forelimbs are modified into flippers, the tail is short and wedge-shaped and the hind limbs are set far back on the body, which is supported on land by webbed feet. Species-specific markings on the head and facial areas make it easy to tell the adults of most penguin species apart.
The emperor penguin is the largest penguin, standing 112 cm (44 in) tall. The smallest penguin is the fairy penguin, standing just 41 cm (16 in).
Of the 18 penguin species, emperor penguins weigh the most at 27-41 kg (60-90 lbs). In contrast, the fairy penguin is the lightest, weighing roughly 1 kg (2.2 lbs).
The emperor penguin is the largest penguin, standing 112 cm (44 in) tall. The smallest penguin is the fairy penguin, standing just 41 cm (16 in).
Of the 18 penguin species, emperor penguins weigh the most at 27-41 kg (60-90 lbs). In contrast, the fairy penguin is the lightest, weighing roughly 1 kg (2.2 lbs).
Adaptations to their environment
Emperor Penguins adapted in several ways to counteract heat loss. Feathers provide 80–90% of its insulation, and it has a layer of subdermal fat which may be up to 3cm thick before breeding. Its stiff feathers are short and densely packed over the entire skin surface.
The Emperor Penguin is able to thermoregulate (maintain its core body temperature) without altering its metabolism, over a wide range of temperatures.
The bones of the penguin are solid rather than air-filled, which eliminates the risk of mechanical barotrauma .Also this thick bones allow them to dive so deep without floating. However, it is unknown how the species avoids the effects of nitrogen-induced decompression sickness.
While diving, the Emperor Penguin’s oxygen use is markedly reduced; as its heart rate is reduced to as low as five beats per minute and non-essential organs are shut down, thus facilitating longer dives. Its hemoglobin and myoglobin are able to bind and transport oxygen at low blood concentrations; this allows the bird to function with very low oxygen levels that would otherwise result in loss of consciousness.
The Emperor Penguin is able to thermoregulate (maintain its core body temperature) without altering its metabolism, over a wide range of temperatures.
The bones of the penguin are solid rather than air-filled, which eliminates the risk of mechanical barotrauma .Also this thick bones allow them to dive so deep without floating. However, it is unknown how the species avoids the effects of nitrogen-induced decompression sickness.
While diving, the Emperor Penguin’s oxygen use is markedly reduced; as its heart rate is reduced to as low as five beats per minute and non-essential organs are shut down, thus facilitating longer dives. Its hemoglobin and myoglobin are able to bind and transport oxygen at low blood concentrations; this allows the bird to function with very low oxygen levels that would otherwise result in loss of consciousness.