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A giant of the Antarctic
The Emperor is the largest of the penguins : about 1.20 m tall and weighing between 20 and 45 kg according to the season. Well-adapted to the cold, it lives along the Antarctic coast, in the Southern Polar regions. It feeds exclusively from the sea, on fish, krill (tiny shrimps) and cephalopods (such as squid) that it catches in its very sharp beak.
The Emperor Penguin is unable to fly, but it is an excellent swimmer. It can dive to depths of 300 or 400 metres, spending more than 15 minutes below water. In addition, it can propel itself forward at speeds of 5 to 10 km/h, reaching 30 km/h in short bursts.
Penguins keep themselves warm…
Each April, Emperor Penguins gather together on the ice pack, in colonies of several thousands, to reproduce. A month later, each female lays a single 500g egg and rapidly puts it in the care of the male, prior to going off to feed at sea. She does not come back until 2 months later.
Thus, the males remain on the ice-pack for a further two months, without eating, in temperatures
of -30°C and winds of 200 km/h. To survive so long in such conditions, they huddle together in « turtle formation ». Pressed tightly against each other, they reduce their energy expenditure by half. Separately, they would not survive.
… and make their reserves spin out
Whilst awaiting the return of the females, the males gather together in turtle formation and feed off their reserves of fat. But how do they manage to feed their young ? Recent studies, conducted by CNRS scientists, have demonstrated that the males are capable of keeping food intact in their stomach for several weeks. In this way, they manage to feed their chicks until the mother returns.
By the time the females finally arrive to take over the feeding of the young, the males will have spent a total of 4 months on the ice and lost between 12 and 15 kg. |