The Penguins of Antarctica
The penguin is the most common species of bird found in the Antarctic. Although there are 17 species of penguin, only four actually breed on the continent of Antarctica. These are Adelie, Emperor, Chinstrap and Gentoo. Most of the others are found in sub Antarctic regions which includes many coastal islands and they can also be seen as far north as the Galapagos Islands.
The Penguin Name
There is no known origin of the word penguin although some believe it could have come from the welsh "pen gwyn" which means white head or the Latin "pinguis" which refers to the fat or blubber of a bird.
The Penguin's Appearance
All species of penguin have a stricking black and white coat. The distinguishing features and colours are on the head and neck. They vary greatly in size from the l...