2006-10-06 08:14:49 · 8 answers · asked by Alicat 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Since when did they start putting feet on penguins? I think they're a great biscuit already!!!
2006-10-06 08:18:12 · answer #1 · answered by stevo132001 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Penguins lose a lot of heat through their flippers and feet, and they have a few clever strategies for dealing
with the problem.
For one thing, when they have to they can stand with their feet tucked under their insulating feathers and body fat to keep them toasty, which is something you with your big brain and your fancy-schancy opposable thumbs and free will sure can't do.
Secondly, the muscles that control the flippers and feet are not in site,so to speak, but deep inside the penquins's warm body. They are connected to the flippers and feet by tendons that move things around, sort of like the strings on a puppet.
Last, the little capillaries that carry warm blood to the outer regions run very close to the capillaries toting cold blood back toward the heart. This gets that cold blood warmed up a bit before it hits the central part of the body. And the penquins are very good at regulating their blood flow to keep the temperture in their feet just above the freezing level.
A snow field may separate the rookery from the ocean so the parents actually create "trails" in the snow as they walk to and from their nests, the parents taking turns caring for the babies and bringing food. Gentoos have typical penguin feet, well adapted to walking over rough rocky terrain and snow. Their tough, fat feet have sharp nails for clinging to rock and digging into the snow. This species is different than other brushtail penguins in that the mated pairs usually stay together throughout the year. They are also a little bigger and shyer than other brushtails.
For more info
http://www.biosbcc.net/ocean/AApenguins.htm
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnews.asp?AuthorID=25955&id=12489
2006-10-06 15:24:42 · answer #2 · answered by SAM M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A. The system that stops a penguin's foot from freezing is very elaborate and sophisticated and employs two mechanisms.
The first one allows the penguin to control the rate of blood flowing to its feet by varying the diameter of arterial vessels supplying the blood. In cold conditions the flow is reduced, when it is warm the flow increases.
The second mechanism takes the form of 'counter current heat exchangers' at the top of the legs. The arteries, which supply warm blood and oxygen to the penguin's feet break up into many small vessels which are closely linked to similar numbers of venous vessels bringing cold blood back from the feet. So, when heat is lost from the arterial vessels, the venous vessels running in the opposite direction pick it up and carry it back through the body, rather than out through the feet. This means that in the very remote regions of the skin, cells get oxygen but heat isn't lost through this skin.
2006-10-06 15:24:24 · answer #3 · answered by kidd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Due to the high concentration of glucoss (sugar) found in the penguins blood stream.
2006-10-06 15:20:13 · answer #4 · answered by csi_charlottetown 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because when they get too cold they pull them up next to their body and get them warm thy do this while lying on their stomach.
2006-10-06 15:25:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their feathers and body fat protect them from the cold winds. See:http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/cold_penguins.htm
2006-10-06 15:43:07 · answer #6 · answered by serious 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THEY DUN HAVE FEET!!!! THEY STAND ON LIL ICE SNAKES THAT CARRY THEM AROUND!! THATS WHY IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WADDLE,,,,ITS JUST THE SNAKES GOIN OVER ROUGH TERRAIN!!!.........LOL I HAVE NO IDEA
2006-10-06 15:22:49 · answer #7 · answered by FIRE&ICE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their blood is special, and is a kind of antifreeze.
2006-10-06 15:17:31 · answer #8 · answered by john r 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋