Most birds are made for the air, others even for the land, but penguins are better equipped for life in the water.
These nonflying birds use their wings as oars when they are swimming, allowing them, so to speak, to "fly" in the water. The word "fly" is not too much, as some penguins travel underwater at speeds of 60 km/hour (although their normal speed is 8-10 km/hour), making these seabirds the fastest on the planet.
The penguins' main diet includes fish and shellfish. They care for their young in large colonies in Antarctica and nearby islands. Sometimes penguins raise their children in "families," with some adults caring for the young of other penguins rather than just their own offspring.
There are more than a dozen species of penguins living in the southern seas and Antarctic region. These animals vary in size from the small blue penguin, only 15 inches (40 cm), to the emperor penguin, who stands over 4 feet (1.20 cm) tall and weighs 36 kilograms.
The largest penguins (emperors) are capable of diving to depths of 850 feet (260 meters), and resist without breathing underwater for 15 minutes.
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