Ten interesting penguin facts

1. There are a total of eighteen species of penguin in the world. Five of them are thought to be endangered and facing possible extinction unless strong conservation measures are taken.
2. Penguins live mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins can be found in South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, as well as many small islands in the southern Pacific Ocean.
3. The Galapagos penguin is the northernmost species. It resides permanently around the equator on the Galapagos Islands.
4. Penguins have extremely powerful flippers and streamlined bodies which make them excellent swimmers. In fact they are the fastest swimming and deepest diving species of any bird.
5. Some penguins can swim as fast as 20mph, this is aided by a process known as porpoising, in which tiny bubbles of air coat their plumage reducing friction with the waters surface.
6. Penguins can eat a variety of marine life, including krill, fish, shrimp and even squid.
7. Penguins eyesight is far superior beneath the waters surface than above in the air. This enables them to hunt down their pray much more easily.
8. Penguins a very sociable animals. They form large breeding colonies, sometimes in the tens of thousands. They can also share the same nesting ground year after year.
9. Generally speaking, penguins can live for anything between 15-20 years. Spending about 60 percent of their lives at sea.
10. Natural predators include leopard seals, snakes, sharks, sea lions, orcas, skulls and foxes. Man made threats come from oil spills, illegal poaching, global warming and other forms of pollution.