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Emperor Penguins feed mainly on fish, Crustaceans (Krill), and
Cephalopods (Squid). Penguins are strictly carnivorous (eat only
meat).
They swim about 1,700 feet underwater to capture their food. They
consume their meals whole while they are swimming underneath the water. |
Penguins feed primarily during the day when the sun is the highest in
the sky. The light from the sun enters the water and helps them to
locate food. Penguins have better eyesight under the water than on
land, which also helps them locate food underwater. They use their short, thick, and strong beak to grip onto their
prey. Their mouths and tongues are lined with little spines, which are
used to help hold onto slippery prey. The downward curve on Emperor
Penguins beaks helps them to catch fish and squid that are very fast
moving.
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When the females return from the sea after finding food, they feed the
father. Next, male penguins feed their young chick by regurgitating the food
they had just eaten. The chick will stick it's beak inside the father's
small crease of the throat to feed. Once the chick is in the mother's
care, she will take her turn to feed her chick, by regurgitating the
food that is stored in her stomach. Both the mother and the father take
turns feeding their chick until the chick is old enough to live on its
own. |
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A
penguin chick feeding
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Although the seas have large amounts of salt contained in them, Emperor
Penguins are able to drink the water. This causes no harm to the penguins because they have specialized glands in their
bill to remove the excess salt.
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A closed circulatory system is found in all vertebrates (animals that
contain a backbone). The two main functions of this system are transportation and
conservation of heat. A process called "countercurrent heat exchange"
occurs to conserve heat inside the body. The heat from the blood
traveling through the flippers and legs is transferred to the blood that
is returning to the heart. Also, when the body becomes too cold, the
blood vessels in the skin dilate, or become larger. This signals the
body to bring heat that is within the body to the surface to disperse
it. |
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