Most people confuse penguins with polar bears. No, if you show them a picture, then, of course, they will distinguish “bears in white” from “birds in black tailcoats,” but when you tell them that you went to Antarctica, the majority will say: “Say hello to the polar bears,” and if you go to North Pole, then someone will definitely say hi to the penguins.

You can remember who lives where in the following way: imagine a school globe. Polar bears crowd on top of it, rubbing against the earth’s axis and trying not to fall off the globe onto the table, and below, under the globe, it’s like the bats Little penguins are running upside down.

While polar bears do not descend the globe below the Arctic Circle, tenacious penguins manage to climb all the way up to the equator. You heard right. Penguins even live on the Galapagos Islands, several tens of kilometers from the equator, and have never seen snow in their lives. The temperature there ranges from +18 to +28 - warmer than in Moscow.

In general, it is a big misconception to think that penguins live exclusively in the snow, in Antarctica. A lot of penguins live in South Africa, South America and even Australia and New Zealand. They live in burrows that they dig in the sand.

There is a beach in Cape Town that penguins have chosen for themselves and live there in a whole colony. You can buy a ticket and swim with the penguins. The water here is about +10 degrees, so it’s better to take a wetsuit, otherwise your legs will cramp when you go into such water barefoot.

The announcement at the entrance to the parking lot is very touching: “Please, before leaving, look under the car and make sure there are no penguins under it!”

P.S. I'm drawing up a travel schedule for the rest of the year. I will be on a big expedition all summer and won’t be able to take anyone there, but then I will have several interesting trips and I will be glad to everyone who wants to join me. This will include a trip to Antarctica!

I will publish a detailed schedule of my trips on my next Instagram.

According to popular belief, polar bears and penguins live where there is a lot of snow and ice. This is true, but although these species prefer extreme conditions, V natural environment They do not live in the same territory. Polar bears like the Arctic, and penguins like Antarctica. Let's take a closer look at where polar bears and penguins live.

Polar bears - habitat and habits

In their natural environment, polar bears live in the subpolar regions of the North Pole. These animals are well adapted to life in the harsh north with extreme low temperatures. Thanks to impressive reserves of subcutaneous fat and thick fur, polar bears feel comfortable both on land and in ice water. Such a habitat does not prevent large predators from leading a full-fledged lifestyle.

Polar bears in natural conditions They live in several countries, including Russia, Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Norway. Large predators do not have a tendency to migrate; they live in a specific area, preferring areas with open water, since fish is the polar bear’s favorite food.

IN summer time Due to rising temperatures, polar bears are scattering. Some animals are even found at the North Pole. Today, the number of these animals is small compared to previous years, but not critical, so it is too early to talk about the disappearance of the species from the face of the planet.

The polar bear is a large terrestrial predator. In nature, males weighing up to 800 kg are often found. The average weight of a male is 450 kg. Females weigh half as much, but before wintering or during pregnancy they significantly increase their body weight. Brown bear is considered the closest relative of the white, so crossing these species usually ends in success.

Peculiarities of seasonal behavior of polar bears

It is striking that polar bears do not have a hibernation period. They remain active throughout the year. As cold weather approaches, animals actively gain subcutaneous fat.

Polar bears get their name from the shade of their fur. IN winter time animals use fur for camouflage. Special attention deserves the intelligence of polar bears. While waiting for prey, these massive predators cover their nose, which is the only dark spot, with their paw. In summer, the polar bear's fur takes on a straw-colored hue. This is due to ultraviolet rays.

I note that the polar bear has a multi-level “robe”. The black skin, which perfectly absorbs the sun's heat, is covered with a fluffy undercoat. The animal also has long protective hairs. They are transparent and characterized by excellent thermal conductivity.

Polar bears unusually hardy. Despite their decent body weight, animals move quickly, taking advantage of leaping running. Often, in pursuit of prey, the predator overcomes up to 500 meters.

The polar bear also feels great in the water. Without a break, he swims up to 1 km. This animal is also an excellent diver. For five minutes he calmly engages in spearfishing.

The polar bear's diet includes fish, sea and land animals. Sometimes seals also end up on the predator’s table. Thanks to a decent supply of fat, it goes without food for a long time, but if luck smiles, it eats up to 20 kg of meat at a time.

Polar bears don't drink. They obtain the liquid they need for a full-fledged existence from food of animal origin. I note that due to the cold climate they do not sweat profusely. So they practically do not lose moisture.

Penguins - habitat and habits

Penguins are funny birds. They have wings, but they don't fly. They are clumsy on land, but extremely graceful in water. Many people are of the opinion that they live only in Antarctica. This is wrong. This part of the planet is inhabited by only 3 species; the remaining species like warmer climes.

With the exception of the breeding season and feeding of offspring, penguins stay in the open sea of ​​the Southern Hemisphere. The bulk of birds are concentrated in Antarctica and on the territory of nearby islands. In tropical latitudes, they appear in places with cold currents. The Galapagos Islands, which are located near the equator, are considered the northernmost habitat of penguins.

Where are penguins found?

• Antarctica. A continent with a harsh climate, eternal ice and the temperature became extremely low ideal place for the life activity of the Antarctic and Emperor penguins, as well as the Adélie species. From early spring to mid-autumn they live in the ocean, after which they return to land, unite in colonies, build nests, reproduce and feed their offspring.
• Africa. The hot African coast, washed by the cold Benguela Current, is favored by spectacled penguins. This species is incredibly sociable. It is not surprising that many tourists come to the Cape of Good Hope every year for an unforgettable experience with birds.
• Australia. The Australian or blue penguin lives here. It differs from other species in its modest weight and small height - 1 kg and 35 cm, respectively. Largest quantity Representatives of the smallest species are concentrated on Phillip Island. Travelers visit this place to admire the Penguin Parade. The small birds gather in small groups at the water's edge and then sway to their burrows in the sandhills.
• Argentina. The Orkney and Shetland Islands are home to King penguins, which grow up to a meter in height. Authorities Latin America They protect these birds in every possible way, which helps to increase the population.
• New Zealand . The islands here are home to Magnificent penguins - the most rare view. Their distinctive feature is living in pairs. They are not going to the colony. Due to the small number of individuals, the species is protected.
• South Atlantic . Golden-haired penguins are found on the coast of Chile, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. Their huge colonies attract tourists with the amazing singing of males, which attract females so much.
• Peru. The Peruvian coast, along which a cold current runs, is the home of Humboldt penguins. For various reasons, their numbers decrease annually, with a total of 12 thousand pairs.

As you can see, there are a considerable number of species of penguins, each of which lives in its own amazing corner. These birds are unique, and humanity simply must ensure that they continue to delight us with their unique views and other individual characteristics.

Peculiarities of seasonal behavior of penguins

The way of life of penguins is extremely unusual. It is not surprising, since these flightless birds use their wings as fins, and all parents take part in raising and feeding their offspring.

In penguins, the courtship period ends with the birth of offspring. The result of the joint efforts of a married couple is an egg. It needs protection from snow, otherwise, under the influence of low temperatures, the offspring will die at the initial stage.

The female carefully places the egg on the male's paws and goes in search of food. Having received the egg, the male envelops the unborn baby with an abdominal fold. He will have to warm the egg for 2 months. Often, in order to preserve offspring, the male resorts to the help of other members of the fraternity.

After the baby appears, the male feeds it with milk, the production of which is responsible for the bird’s stomach and esophagus. Penguin milk is an incredibly nutritious liquid containing 10 times more fat and protein than cow's milk.

While the father takes care of the child, the female catches squid and fish. The penguin's tongue is covered with "spines" turned towards the pharynx. If the prey gets into the beak, it will not be possible to escape.

Penguins hunt in flocks. The females, gathered in a large group, dive into the water and, opening their mouths wide, fly at speed into a school of fish. After such a maneuver, a tasty morsel is sure to end up in the mouth.

Upon returning, the female, which has gained weight, fattens the hungry family members. In your stomach caring mother brings up to 4 kg of half-digested food. The little penguin is transferred to its mother's paws and eats the delicacies brought for several weeks.

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Where do polar bears and penguins live in captivity?

Every person who has visited the zoo has probably seen a polar bear. Spacious pens are equipped for these animals, where conditions are created that best match the natural environment. It's about about simulating cold climates, creating ponds with ice water and snow shelters.

A penguin is a flightless bird that belongs to the order Penguinidae, family Penguinidae (Spheniscidae).

The origin of the word “penguin” has 3 versions. The first involves a combination of the Welsh words pen (head) and gwyn (white), which originally referred to the now extinct great auk. Due to the similarity of the penguin with this bird, the definition was transferred to it. According to the second option, the name of the penguin was given by English word pinwing, translated meaning “hairpin wing”. The third version is the Latin adjective pinguis, meaning “fat.”

Penguin - description, characteristics, structure

All penguins can swim and dive excellently, but they cannot fly at all. On land, the bird looks rather clumsy due to the structural features of the body and limbs. The penguin has a streamlined body shape with highly developed muscles of the pectoral keel, which often makes up a quarter of the total mass. The penguin's body is quite plump, slightly compressed laterally and covered with feathers. The not too large head is located on a mobile, flexible and rather short neck. The penguin's beak is strong and very sharp.

As a result of evolution and lifestyle, the penguin's wings have changed into elastic flippers: when swimming underwater, they rotate in the shoulder joint like a screw. The legs are short and thick, have 4 toes, connected by swimming membranes.

Unlike other birds, the penguin's legs are significantly moved back, which forces the bird to keep its body strictly vertical while on land.

To maintain balance, the penguin is helped by a short tail, consisting of 16-20 hard feathers: if necessary, the bird simply leans on it, as if on a stand.

The penguin's skeleton does not consist of hollow tubular bones, which is usual for other birds: the penguin's bones are more similar in structure to bones marine mammals. For optimal thermal insulation, the penguin has an impressive reserve of fat with a layer of 2-3 centimeters.

The plumage of penguins is dense and dense: individual small and short feathers cover the body of the bird like a tile, protecting it from getting wet. cold water. The color of the feathers in all species is almost identical - a dark (usually black) back and a white belly.

Once a year, a penguin molts: new feathers grow from at different speeds, pushing out the old feather, so often the bird during the molting period has an unkempt, ragged appearance.

During molting, penguins are only on land, try to hide from gusts of wind and eat absolutely nothing.

The sizes of penguins differ depending on the species: for example, the emperor penguin reaches 117-130 cm in length and weighs from 35 to 40 kg, and the little penguin has a body length of only 30-40 cm, while the penguin weighs 1 kg.

In search of food, penguins are able to spend quite a lot of time under water, plunging into its thickness to 3 meters and covering distances of 25-27 km. The speed of a penguin in water can reach 7-10 km per hour. Some species dive to depths reaching 120-130 meters.

During the period when penguins are not bothered mating games and caring for their offspring, they move quite far from the coast, swimming out to sea at a distance of up to 1000 km.

On land if necessary fast travel the penguin lies on its belly and, pushing off with its limbs, quickly slides along the ice or snow.

With this method of movement, penguins reach speeds of 3 to 6 km/h.

The lifespan of a penguin in nature is 15-25 years or more. In captivity, with ideal bird maintenance, this figure sometimes increases to 30 years.

Enemies of penguins in nature

Unfortunately, the penguin has enemies in its natural habitat. They happily peck at penguin eggs, and the helpless chicks are a tasty prey for the skua. Fur seals, killer whales, leopard seals and sea lions hunt penguins in the sea. They won’t refuse to diversify their menu with a plump penguin and.

What do penguins eat?

Penguins eat fish, crustaceans, plankton and small cephalopods. The bird happily eats krill, anchovies, Antarctic silverfish, small octopuses and squid. During one hunt, a penguin can make from 190 to 800-900 dives: this depends on the type of penguin, climatic conditions and feed requirements. Oral apparatus The bird works on the principle of a pump: through its beak it sucks in small prey along with water. On average, birds swim about 27 kilometers during feeding and spend about 80 minutes a day at a depth of more than 3 meters.

The geographical distribution of these birds is quite extensive, but they prefer cool conditions. Penguins live in cold zones of the Southern Hemisphere; their concentrations are mainly observed in Antarctica and the Subantarctic region. They also live in southern Australia and South Africa, found almost along the entire coastline South America- from the Falkland Islands to the territory of Peru, near the equator they live on the Galapagos Islands.

Classification of the Penguin family (Spheniscidae)

The order Penguin-like (Sphenisciformes) includes the only modern family– Penguinidae, or Penguins (Spheniscidae), in which 6 genera and 18 species are distinguished (according to the datazone.birdlife.org database from November 2018).

Genus Aptenodytes J. F. Miller, 1778 - Emperor penguins

• Aptenodytes forsteri R. Gray, 1844 -
• Aptenodytes patagonicus F. Miller, 1778 - King penguin

Genus Eudyptes Vieillot, 1816 - Crested penguins

• Eudyptes chrysocome(J.R. Forster, 1781) - Crested penguin, golden-crested rock penguin
• Eudyptes chrysolophus(J. F. von Brandt, 1837) - Golden-haired penguin
• Eudyptes moseleyi Mathews & Iredale, 1921 – Northern crested penguin
• Eudyptes pachyrhynchus R. Gray, 1845 - Thick-billed or Victoria penguin
• Eudyptes robustus Oliver, 1953 - Snare crested penguin
• Eudyptes schlegeli Finsch, 1876 - Schlegel's Penguin
• Eudyptes sclateri Buller, 1888 - Great crested penguin

Genus Eudyptula Bonaparte, 1856 - Lesser penguins

• Eudyptula minor(J.R. Forster, 1781) - Little Penguin

Genus Megadyptes Milne-Edwards, 1880 - Magnificent Penguins

• Megadyptes antipodes(Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841) - Yellow-eyed penguin, or magnificent penguin

Genus Pygoscelis Wagler, 1832 - Chinstrap penguins

• Pygoscelis adeliae(Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841) - Adelie Penguin
• Pygoscelis antarcticus(J.R. Forster, 1781) - Chinstrap penguin
• Pygoscelis papua(J.R. Forster 1781) - Gentoo (subantarctic) penguin

Genus Spheniscus Brisson, 1760 - Spectacled penguins

• Spheniscus demersus(Linnaeus, 1758) - Spectacled penguin
• Spheniscus humboldti Meyen, 1834 - Humboldt penguin
• Spheniscus magellanicus(J.R. Forster, 1781) - Magellanic penguin
• Spheniscus mendiculus Sundevall, 1871 - Galapagos penguin

Types of penguins, photos and names

The modern classification of penguins includes 6 genera and 19 species. Below are descriptions of several varieties:

• Emperor Penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri)

This is the largest and heaviest penguin: the weight of the male reaches 40 kg with a body length of 117-130 cm, females are somewhat smaller - with a height of 113-115 cm they weigh on average 32 kg. The plumage on the back of the birds is black, the belly is white, and in the neck area there are characteristic spots of orange or bright yellow. Emperor penguins live on the coast of Antarctica.

• King Penguin ( Aptenodytes patagonicus)

very similar to the emperor penguin, but differs from it in its more modest size and feather color. The size of the king penguin varies from 90 to 100 cm. The weight of the penguin is 9.3-18 kg. In adult individuals, the back is dark gray, sometimes almost black, the abdomen is white, and there are bright orange spots on the sides of the dark head and in the chest area. The habitats of this bird are the South Sandwich Islands, Tierra del Fuego Islands, Crozet, Kerguelen, South Georgia, Macquarie, Heard, Prince Edward, and the coastal waters of Lusitania Bay.

• Adelie Penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae)

medium sized bird. The length of the penguin is 65-75 cm, weight is about 6 kg. The back is black, the belly is white, distinguishing feature- ring white around eyes. Adélie penguins live in Antarctica and the adjacent island territories: Orkney and South Shetland Islands.

• Northern crested penguin ( Eudyptes moseleyi)

endangered species. The length of the bird is approximately 55 cm, average weight about 3 kg. The eyes are red, the belly is white, the wings and back are gray-black. Yellow eyebrows blend smoothly into tufts of yellow feathers located to the side of the eyes. Black feathers stick out on the penguin's head. This species differs from the southern crested penguin (lat. Eudyptes chrysocome) by shorter feathers and narrower eyebrows. The bulk of the population lives on the islands of Gough, Impregnable and Tristan da Cunha, located in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

• Golden-haired penguin (golden-haired penguin) ( Eudyptes chrysolophus)

has a coloring typical of all penguins, but differs in one feature in appearance: This penguin has a striking tuft of golden-colored feathers above its eyes. Body length varies between 64-76 cm, Weight Limit– a little more than 5 kg. Golden-throated penguins live along the southern coasts Indian Ocean and Atlantic, slightly less common in the northern part of Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego, they also nest on other islands of the Subantarctic.

• Gentoo penguin ( Pygoscelis papua)

the largest penguin in size after the emperor and king. The length of the bird reaches 70-90 cm, the weight of the penguin is from 7.5 to 9 kg. The black back and white belly are the typical color of birds of this species; the beak and legs are colored orange-red. The penguins' habitat is limited to Antarctica and the islands of the Subantarctic zone (Prince Edward Island, South Sandwich and Falkland Islands, Heard Island, Kerguelen, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands).

• Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus)

has a body length of 70-80 cm and a weight of about 5-6 kg. The color of the plumage is typical for all penguin species, the peculiarity is 1 or 2 black stripes in the neck area. Magellanic penguins nest on the Patagonian coast, on the Juan Fernandez and Falkland Islands, and small groups live in southern Peru and Rio de Janeiro.

• Pygoscelis antarctica)

reaches a height of 60-70 cm and weighs no more than 4.5 kg. The back and head are dark gray, the penguin's belly is white. A black stripe runs down the head. Chinstrap penguins live on the coast of Antarctica and the islands adjacent to the continent. They are also found on icebergs in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands.

• spectacled penguin, aka donkey penguin, black-footed penguin or African penguin ( Spheniscus demersus)

reaches a length of 65-70 centimeters and weighs from 3 to 5 kg. Distinctive feature the bird is a narrow strip of black color, bending in the shape of a horseshoe and running along the belly - from the chest to the paws. The spectacled penguin lives on the coast of Namibia and South Africa, nesting along the coastline of islands with the cold Bengal Current.

• Little Penguin ( Eudyptula minor)

the smallest penguin in the world: the bird is 30-40 cm tall and weighs about 1 kg. The back of the little penguin is colored blue-black or dark gray, the chest area and top part paws are white or light gray. Penguins live on the coast of South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and the adjacent islands of Stuart and Chatham.

A common belief: penguins and polar bears live wherever there is a lot of ice and snow. Although both species prefer extreme conditions, in the natural environment they do not live in the same territory. Polar bears liked the Arctic, which penguins did not like - they preferred Antarctica.

Polar bears have chosen the North Pole, and penguins have chosen the South Pole. Clubfoots like life associated with drifting ice. They would not have come to land at all if it were not for the period of raising babies. Bear cubs are born in dens on land, and as they grow up, they get used to life on floating ice.

The main “bear maternity hospitals” are located in the Arctic - on the island. Vrungel, Severnaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land. Male polar bears are eternal wanderers. They are excellent swimmers and can swim more than a hundred kilometers.

About 25 thousand individuals live around the North Pole. True, polar bears do not like sea pollution and global warming. These majestic beauties live near the northern shores of Eurasia and America on floating ice. They are also found in Russia, on the islands of the Arctic Ocean.

Some people are wondering: could polar bear live without ice? The answer to this question was given by nature itself, as well as to the question of where penguins and polar bears live. In the 60s, a colony of individuals was discovered on the coast of Hudson Bay (Canada). The bears spent most of their time on the ice, feeding on seals.

During the period when the ice melted, they went deep into the continent. Their food became molting birds and their eggs. But because global warming the population has almost halved over 10 years – from 1,600 to 900 individuals. Due to melting ice, the bears simply did not have enough of their usual food.

What will happen if penguins are eventually settled in the Arctic? According to the director of the Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic, Viktor Boyarsky, the population simply would not survive there - there is no ecological niche. For natural movement towards the Arctic, there are no currents that unite the Northern and South Pole. The tropical zone is an insurmountable barrier for penguins.

The polar bear does not even look into the territory where the birds live. After all, there are no extensive floating ice with polynyas. And this is the main “love” of polar bears. Therefore, clubfoot from the Arctic would not survive in the habitats of penguins either. They would not be able to get their own food. And the nature of Antarctica is poorer, only rich undersea world. But polar bears have a chance to occupy these spaces. After all, the ice in Artik is gradually melting. In the northern part of Antarctica, on the contrary, they are increasing.

Penguins like the Southern Hemisphere. They can be found in Antarctica and on the islands adjacent to the continent. There are also penguin colonies in Peru, southern Brazil and even in Africa (southwest)! There are penguins in New Zealand and even in southern Australia. Counts 16 different types, all of them are perfectly adapted to the aquatic way of life. True, they prefer different landscapes. Most people prefer the rocky surface, but some love it sandy beaches and thickets of grass. There are even colonies of penguins that prefer coastal forests.

As everyone knows, the penguin is a flightless swimming bird that lives in Antarctica.
But why they cannot take and settle in the northern hemisphere, because at the North Pole there also seems to be snow, ice and cold? After all, once upon a time the so-called Great Auk, a large waterfowl flightless bird from the guillemot family, already lived in the Arctic, until it was exterminated by humans.

Or maybe penguins they simply cannot live outside of Antarctica? Today, science knows of penguins that live on the shores of Australia, New Zealand, Africa and America, and one species even managed to settle near the equator on the Galapagos Islands. But for some reason penguins don’t like the northern hemisphere.

For science, the answer to the question “why penguins couldn’t cross the equator” still remains

secret. Some zoologists suggest that the reason for this reluctance to sail to the North Pole lies in tropical zones Earth. It turns out that if you compare and overlay two maps one on top of the other, one of which will be the habitat of penguins, and the other map of average annual temperatures, you will find that the places where penguins live will ideally correlate with the air isotherm of + 20 degrees Celsius, which denotes thermal a barrier that penguins do not want to cross.

In ancient times, penguins evolved in the temperate zone southern hemisphere. Isotherms high temperature water and tropical latitudes were the border that penguins could not cross to conquer the northern hemisphere.

Resettlement attempts

People have already tried to bring penguins to the Arctic. It is known that there were two such cases:

• In the 1930s, Carl Chauvin introduced King penguins into the fjords of the Lofontaine Islands (Norway), but years later, in 1954, the last penguin was spotted there.
• In 1966, 50 chinstrap penguins were flown to the North Pole to test their orientation abilities. Some time later, one of the penguins was spotted near Mirny station in Antarctica. He returned home!

And that's all I have. If you wish, you can read the answers to the following questions.