nds. The smallest penguin in the species is the Fairy penguin, standing only sixteen inches and weighs less than 3 pounds. Penguins wings are highly modified to form a stiff paddle-like flipper used for swimming. Each flipper is covered with short, scale like feathers. The long wing feathers typical of most birds would be too flexible for swimming through water. (Sparks and Soper, 1987) A penguins tail is short and wedged shaped with fourteen to eighteen stiff tail feathers. The legs and webbed feet with visible claws on a penguin are set back on the body so that when on land, the penguin is able to stand. Penguins walk with short steps or hops, sometimes using their bills or tails to assist themselves on steep climbs. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992) When in the ocean swimming, penguins use their feet and short stubby tail as a rudder to guide them through the water. Penguins bones are solid and heavy which help them to remain submerged to reduce the energy that they need for diving. Penguins are able to withstand the extreme cold because of the insulation provided by their feathers. Feathers are highly specialized, broad and closely spaced helping to keep water away from the penguins body. Penguins have more feathers than most birds, having about seventy feathers per square inch on their body. Most penguin species goes through one complete molting cycle per year, which usually happens after breeding season. The exception to this is the Galapagos penguin which annually go through 2 molts. (del Hoyo, et al., 1992) For penguins, molting is a very important process because feathers wear out when penguins come in contact with each other, as well as with the ground and water. The molting period varies between one species to another. Usually the time period is anywhere from thirteen to thirty-four days. Regular preening of the feathers is essential as penguins obtain oil from their tails to coat their feathers for waterproofing. Penguins ...
