10 Interesting Facts about Penguins

Seemingly decked out in a tux, the penguin may very well be the most fashionable of our flightless friends. Waddle through these interesting penguin facts to discover just what makes this beloved sea bird the life of the party. 1. In the United States, it is illegal to eat penguins. 2. Penguins’ eyes work better underwater than they do in air. Penguins are extremely short-sighted on land. 3. A group of penguins in the water is called a “raft.” A group of penguins on land is called a “waddle.” 4. Penguins can control the blood flow to their extremities to reduce the amount of blood that gets cold, but not enough so that their extremities freeze. 5. Penguins can drink salt water because they have a special gland, the supraorbital gland, that filters salt from the bloodstream. 6. The tallest type of penguin is the Emperor penguin, at nearly 4 feet tall. The smallest is the Little Blue penguin, at about 16 inches tall.