2006-09-27 06:42:56 · 21 answers · asked by stropy p 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Because it is the best camo underwater, which is where they feed and are most likely to get fed upon.
2006-09-27 06:45:01 · answer #1 · answered by artisticallyderanged 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is an evolutionary defense mechanism. While they swim, if a predator approaces them from below, a whale surfacing for instance, their white bellies would blend with the background of icebergs and ice sheets.
In the other hand, a predator approacing from above would be confused by the black tone blending with the deep blue (almost black) ocean.
2006-09-27 13:52:22 · answer #2 · answered by Willie S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps because black attracts more sunlight to keep them warm. Or so they can't be seen while swimming in the sea: from under, their white belly disappear in the white background due to the reflection of the sun on the surface of the sea, and frm above, their black backs are the same color as the deep sea.
2006-09-27 13:48:07 · answer #3 · answered by cel 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for camouflage in water so predators cannot see them, when they are swimming above a predator, the predator sees only the white belly that blends in with the light shining down into the ocean, and when a predator is above them, all they see in the black back that blends in with the dark ocean below...therefore not being able to see the penguin.
2006-09-27 17:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Camoflage
2006-09-27 17:50:21 · answer #5 · answered by taxed till i die,and then some. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Black make them hard to see from above when swimming, white makes them hard to see from below. It's a safety thing
2006-10-01 12:26:57 · answer #6 · answered by lindsey2154 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you now know the answer to this one the white underparts are camaflague,but did you know the word penguin is of welsh origin meaning white head.originally it was the name for the now extinct great auk.
2006-09-30 23:36:46 · answer #7 · answered by barrie s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's so you can see them and don't run them over, which was great until they started queing up for fish. Then people started to think they were a Zebra crossing with no one walking accross it and ran them down.
Well almost humorous ?
2006-09-27 13:48:55 · answer #8 · answered by philipscottbrooks 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the black keep them warm in the cold and white protects them from scavengers by making them blend in with the snow, which is white like their fur. so the scavengers don't see them, so it wont be able to attack them, since he cant see them.
2006-10-01 13:31:22 · answer #9 · answered by Cutie-Pie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not Black and While are very good camouflage colours,
I think that is why.
2006-09-30 20:04:00 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the water, if things like polar bears look for them, it will be hard for them to see with the black on their backs.
2006-09-27 14:42:15 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋