Monday, March 24, 2008

Fun Facts

I thought it would be appropriate to look on the Sea World website to find out some interesting facts, and sure enough, I did! Some of these things are just so fascinating to think about because nature did certain things for a reason. For example...

1. All penguins have a black backside to camouflage into the dark depths of the ocean when looking down at them, and have a white front side to blend in with the shallower waters when looking up at them. This, of course, protects them from possible predators in the ocean.
-Now, everyone knows all penguins are colored that way, but have you ever thought about why?

2. Penguins have individual vocalizations to help them differentiate their mate and chicks. This is because it is highly unlikely that they can see them among the large group since they all look very similar. There are three types of calls. The contact call helps to recognize colony members, the display call is used for territorial and sexual recognitions, while the threat call warns others of danger and to defend their territory.
-I don't know about you, but that is so interesting!

3. Penguins are able to see both under and out of water. They have color vision and are receptive to the wavelengths of violet, blue, and green light.
-It is fascinating that some animals can see in color, while others can not.

4. When catching prey, penguins generally feed between 50-60 feet of the surface. They have strong jaws and small tongues to hold slippery prey. They swallow it whole while swimming. Emperor penguins have been known to search up to 1,454 km away to find food.
-I know I wouldn't be able to wait that long to eat!

The Sea World Website provided this picture below.

Busch Entertainment Corporation. (2008). Penguins. Sea World/Busch Gardens ANIMALS. Retrieved on March 24, 2008, from http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/penguin/index.htm

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