| The Emperor Trumps The King
While they might all look alike to you, the 17 species of penguins that exist around the globe, actually do have variations in markings, size, and sometimes color, although it is the standard black and white tuxedo look that so charms their admirers. That coloring has a purpose, with the largely black backs and wings serving as a camouflage while in the water.
The largest of the penguin species is the Emperor Penguin, which can stand a majestic 45", whereas the next in line is the King Penguin, which is 6-8 inches shorter. The Emperor is a hefty little bird as well, weighing as much as 90 lbs.
The Emperor penguin is a permanent, year-round resident of the Antarctic Circle, and the only animal that does not desert it in wintertime. In fact, not only do they stay, they breed during this season, where others breed in Spring. To fight off the incredible bone chilling cold, Emperor penguins gather in a group, with the birds taking turns standing on the perimeter, then shifting to the inside of the gathering, to warm up.
You would expect it to be near impossible to raise young here, but they do. In fact, as soon as the female lays her egg, she's off into the ocean to seek food, leaving the egg with Dad. The male Emperor penguin rolls the egg up onto the top of his feet, and covers it with a brood pouch, a warm and well-feathered flap of skin for just this purpose. Then he stands like that for 65 days until the egg hatches and his mate returns with food that she regurgitates for the chick, while the male goes off for a well-earned meal of his own.
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