Galapagos Penguins
Scientific name: Spheniscus
mendiculus
Total length: 21 inches
Weight: 5 pounds
Markings Their head is almost all black
with a narrow band of white around its cheeks
The problem with living in the warm area is all penguins
have thick, watertight coat of feathers for swimming and under
this is a insulating layer of fat to protect them form freezing
in the water. With the heat this is not a good combination.
The Galapagos have found a way to survive the heat.
Accomplished with their layer of fat, which contains a network of
blood vessels. In cooler temperatures, these vessels draw
together, and the layer of fat becomes thicker. In warmer
weather, blood flows freely through the vessels, where the heat
is released. The underside of the wings also contain many blood
vessels. When the heat gets to the penguins, they stand with
their wings spread out. In this way, excess body heat can escape
into the air. Galapagos penguins always stand so their feet are
in the shadows cast by their bodies. Therefore, the feet do not
absorb heat from heat from the Sun. The feet also release body
heat into the air. That is also why they have bare patches of
skin on their faces that serve the same purpose.
Galapagos penguins start mating in the begin of May. When
possible, the penguins will seek out a shadowy area for their
nests. The female lays two eggs and both the parents tended to
the eggs. Because of the heat, Galapagos penguins frequently
abandon their nests if the weather is too hat and find cool
waters of the sea. The will be lost, but the penguins may soon
lay more eggs.
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