How do they stay warm?
Penguins have a thick layer of fat beneath their skin and a thick layer of insulating feathers that covers most of their bodies. Penguins use natural oils, secreted from a gland near the tail, to keep their feathers waterproof. This helps trap a layer of air near the skin which provides insulation to keep the penguin warm in the water. Keeping warm is not a problem for most penguin species. Since penguins are well insulated to protect them from frigid waters most have trouble staying cool when out of the water. Penguins often hold their flippers out to radiate heat and make their feathers stand up to flush out some of the warm air trapped within. Some species have bare patches of skin on the face with which to radiate heat. The Emperor penguin is the only penguin that has to cope with extreme cold, which occurs during the harsh Antarctic winter. They are the only species which breeds during the Antarctic winter. The male Emperor penguins huddle together to keep themselves and their inc
