ANIMAL WORLD
Emperor penguin- Aptenodytes forstery
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Aptenodytes
Species: A. forsteri
General description: Aptenodytes forsteri is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. Theres is not sexual dimorphism, in height reaching 122 cm (48 in) in height and weighing anywhere from 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb). The dorsal side and head are black and sharply delineated from the white belly, pale-yellow breast and bright-yellow ear patches. Like all penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat
Extinction: The species is not in any class of danger, it is a stable species.
Animal behavior: sociable birds that live together in colonies that can contain thousands of individuals. Once having found a mate, Emperor Penguins remain faithful to one another for life and use vocal calls to find each other again when they return to the breeding site. They are excellent swimmers that are also known to leap out of the water when they are travelling at speed in the same way as dolphins. Known as "porpoising" it allows the Emperor Penguin to breathe but without having to slow down. They are also known to dive to depths of more than 500 meters making them the deepest diving birds in the world, where they are able to hold there breath for up to 20 minutes at a time. Usually travelling at speeds of between 5 and 10 kph but capable of swimming at 24 kph, Emperor Penguins can travel as far as 1,000km on a foraging trip.
Isolation mechanisms: Temporal isolation, they use this to prevent paring with other species of penguins.
Evolution:
They are believed to be decedents of early birds that roamed the Earth. Over the course of time they adapted to their new environment and spent more time in the water than on land. It is believed that the penguins are derived from a type of bird that is able to fly. Yet they needed to be able to adapt to the waters if they were going to be able to survive. As a result their wings changed over time to what we call flippers.
Some were in very cold regions while others were where it was warmer. It is believed that the layers of fat that many species of penguins have is due to evolution. In the past such birds may have migrated to warmer areas during such times of the year. However, with changes to their environment they may have felt the need to stay where they were.
