Comments on: Penguin Team Member: Vikki

By: pschaller

pschaller — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:00:28 +0000

Hi Dave, Garrett and Susan: please see comments under Penguin Team Member: Monty for responses to your questions-P. Schaller.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:14:00 +0000

I was watching one swimming today, diving down, and he sure looked buoyant. I assume they have some sort of down, like ducks do, and oily and hollow feathers. Is the buoyancy just a result of the feathers, or do they have a substantial fat layer also?

By: garrett

garrett — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:48:34 +0000

how fast do penguins swim

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:53:12 +0000

Thanks for the answers! So a flat cornea would indicate that most of the refraction is done by the lens? Could work, and presbyopia is probably not an issue. With humans methinks most of the refraction is due to the bulbous shape of teh cornea resulting in greater angles between air ant the eye…
Can you give me some references where I can read up on that topic?

Also, I have two more questions on breeding.
I’ve never heard of hybridized penguins before, but it makes perfect sense. I found the paper form White&Clausen, so apparently it’s happening. In principle, could all penguins interbreed? Could be cute, like Adelie with Fairy…LOL, kawaii!
My other question…I’ve heard that, in captivity, not all penguins can be “allowed” to breed and because of that they are sometimes tricked with a wooden egg. What’s up with that?

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:42:55 +0000

Hi BB, African penguins and Magellanic penguins are very closely related. They have interbred in captivity and are now, mostly kept seperately due to hybridization. The main differences in terms of appearance are size and chest markings. In general, African penguins are smaller in terms of weight and height. African penguins usually have only one full dark breast band, where Magellanics have two full breast bands. Some social and behavioral differences are that African penguins feed near their homes and adults stay on or very close to their colonial territories throughout the year. African penguins can also breed and molt year round (with some peak seasons). Magellanics are off-shore foragers and are migratory, usually traveling for several months away from where they nest. The Magellanics breed and molt in sychrony during very specific seasons.-Pamela

By: pschaller

pschaller — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Hi Dave, Based on molecular sequence data: studies place penguins closely related to petrels, loons, pelicans and frigatebirds; but have failed to resolve exact positions. Penguins are adapted to normal sight both in air and water. This is a result of 2 eye characteristics 1)Relatively flat cornea 2)Lens shape changes by constriction of the cilary and iris sphincter muscles. -Pamela

By: BB

BB — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:39:27 +0000

Dear Vikki:
How closely related are the Magellanics to the African Blackfoot penguins? — even though they are from different continents, they are very similar in appearance. Do they have similar social behavior and ‘personalities’? Are their native environments similar?

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:35:33 +0000

Hi, is it true that, genetically, penguins are close relatives of storks?
Also, are penguins nearsighted or do they has like an extra set of corneas (like a see through lid) they engage under water? I don’t see them bump into stuff. It’s like, ZOMG, 43 diopters or such. What’s their trick?