Test Your Penguin Smarts

1. What threatens the world's penguins?

Food depletion

Climate change

Introduced predators and disease

Habitat degradation

None of the above

All of the above

Over millions of years, penguins have adapted to difficult conditions and diverse ecosystems. But today, all populations—in the cold of Antarctica to the warmth of the Galápagos Islands—are feeling the effects of human activities, including pollution, poorly managed fisheries, and habitat degradation. In addition, almost all penguins are threatened by climate change.

Explanation

Over millions of years, penguins have adapted to difficult conditions and diverse ecosystems. But today, all populations—in the cold of Antarctica to the warmth of the Galápagos Islands—are feeling the effects of human activities, including pollution, poorly managed fisheries, and habitat degradation. In addition, almost all penguins are threatened by climate change.

2. Identify the species based on this photograph.

Emperor

Chinstrap

Erect-crested

Yellow-eyed

Northern rockhopper

None of the above

That’s a rare and elusive yellow-eyed penguin, which makes its home in New Zealand and on the sub-Antarctic Campbell and Auckland islands. It is purported to be the least social of all penguins, nesting in the forest and eating fish. It has a stripe of yellow feathers that runs from each eye and joins at the back of the head.

Explanation

That’s a rare and elusive yellow-eyed penguin, which makes its home in New Zealand and on the sub-Antarctic Campbell and Auckland islands. It is purported to be the least social of all penguins, nesting in the forest and eating fish. It has a stripe of yellow feathers that runs from each eye and joins at the back of the head.

3. Penguins can be found in which location(s):

The Antarctic

The equator

The Arctic

A and B

All of the above

Despite what major advertisers would have you believe, no penguins live in the Arctic. Polar bears and penguins can be seen together in cartoons and at zoos but never in the wild.

Explanation

Despite what major advertisers would have you believe, no penguins live in the Arctic. Polar bears and penguins can be seen together in cartoons and at zoos but never in the wild.

4. Which of these penguin species is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature?

Galapagos

Yellow-eyed

Northern rockhopper

None of the above

All of the above

According to the IUCN, the majority of penguin species are in decline. The state of their well-being is a portent of larger environmental conditions: These birds are sentinels for the health of the entire sea. Changes to their populations can indicate trouble for other species that depend on these waters for survival.

Explanation

According to the IUCN, the majority of penguin species are in decline. The state of their well-being is a portent of larger environmental conditions: These birds are sentinels for the health of the entire sea. Changes to their populations can indicate trouble for other species that depend on these waters for survival.

5. Which species of penguin(s) breeds on ice?

Emperor

Chinstrap

Adélie

None of the above

All of the above

Emperors breed on the sea ice, laying a single egg in the dead of winter. They have no nests, and the males stand for months of Antarctic night, holding the eggs on their feet to protect them from the deadly cold. Chinstrap and Adélie penguins breed on rocky hills and shores, not the ice.

Explanation

Emperors breed on the sea ice, laying a single egg in the dead of winter. They have no nests, and the males stand for months of Antarctic night, holding the eggs on their feet to protect them from the deadly cold. Chinstrap and Adélie penguins breed on rocky hills and shores, not the ice.

6. Which penguin species can be found in the northernmost climate?

Chinstrap

Snares

African

Galapagos

None of the above

All of the above

Galapagos penguins live at the equator and are the northernmost species of penguin. They are also among the most endangered penguins, with only 1,500 breeding pairs left. These birds nest within crevices and caves in the lava from old volcanic eruptions and burrow underground to stay cool.

Explanation

Galapagos penguins live at the equator and are the northernmost species of penguin. They are also among the most endangered penguins, with only 1,500 breeding pairs left. These birds nest within crevices and caves in the lava from old volcanic eruptions and burrow underground to stay cool.

7. Why are penguins black and white?

The coloring helps them regulate their temperature.

It makes it easier for the chicks to find adults on the ice.

The coloring serves as an effective form of camouflage.

All of the above

None of the above

Penguins are well-suited for life on land and at sea. Their distinctive black-and-white coloring is a type of camouflage called countershading. It protects them from predators by blending their backs and bellies with the sea or the sky.

Explanation

Penguins are well-suited for life on land and at sea. Their distinctive black-and-white coloring is a type of camouflage called countershading. It protects them from predators by blending their backs and bellies with the sea or the sky.

8. What is the deepest a penguin can dive?

20 meters (22 yards)

100 meters (110 yards)

300 meters (330 yards)

500 meters (550 yards)

None of the above

All of the above

Emperors are the best avian divers in the world, reaching depths of more than 500 meters with repeated dive times of up to 20 minutes.

Explanation

Emperors are the best avian divers in the world, reaching depths of more than 500 meters with repeated dive times of up to 20 minutes.