Little Man in a Tuxedo: Who doesn't like to watch "the little man in a tuxedo" parading around a landscape of ice? Their hesitant waddle on land, however, belies a penguin's ability in the water. With streamlined bodies, a thick coat that keeps out the cold and repels water, and flipperlike wings, naturally penguins spend most of their lives in the water.
Penguin Parenthood: Penguins breed in colonies, and males and females take turns tending to the one or two eggs that are laid per season. While the off-duty parent goes in search of food, the guardian parent supports the egg between the top of its feet and a thick fold of skin that hangs from its belly to keep the incubating egg warm.
From Emperor to Little: The largest penguin is the emperor penguin and is recognizable, not only by its nearly 4-foot height, but by the yellow, gray and black markings of the upper body and wings. The little penguin is the smallest of its kind at barely 16 inches high.
Built-In Waterproofing: Penguins preen their feathers meticulously to maintain insulation and waterproofing. A gland near the penguin's tail secretes oil into its feathers, which the bird will spread thoroughly while preening.
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