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Penguins are black and white aquatic birds that are only found in the southern hemisphere. Although penguins do not fly, they are in fact birds.

Penguins have evolved webbed feet (similar to ducks) and their wings have evolved into flippers. Both of these features, along with their sleek shape, allow penguins to swim very fast and catch food while swimming in the sea.

There are about 19 different species of penguins and they all range in size. The largest species is the Emperor Penguin which can reach four feet tall as an adult. The 2005 documentary movie March of the Penguins was about the Emperor Penguin and its annual mating ritual. The smallest penguin species is the Little Blue Penguin (also known as the Fairy Penguin or Blue Penguin) which is only 16 inches tall.

Smaller penguins live in warmer regions such as Australia, New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands and South Africa. Larger penguins, such as the Emperor, live in colder regions such as Antarctica. Penguins waddle on their feet to get around on land. Arctic penguins also slide across the snow on their bellies and propell themselves forward with their flippers to help them travel across land faster.

All penguins have dark backs and white bellies. This coloring works as camouflage protecting them from aquatic predators such as the Orcas whale and the Leopard seal. Their white bellies blend in with the bright surface of the sea when a predator is looking up to the surface of the water. Their dark backs help them blend into the dark deep ocean if a predator is looking for prey from above.