QUESTION:
Why do most penguins stay in Antarctica?

        Laurel, Wines Elementary School
        Ann Arbor, Michigan
        

ANSWER from Steven Downey, Doctoral Student, University of Illinois
            Wed, 19 Feb 1997 12:16:56 -0500

Dear Laurel,

Thinking that penguins live only Antarctica is a common misbelief.
Actually, most penguins live outside of Antarctica.  Only six or seven of
17 penguin species live in the Antarctica, depending on where you draw the
boundaries.

As for why those species choose to live there has to do with availability
of food, number of predators, and climate among other things.  Antarctica
is rich with krill and small fish for the penguins to eat.  Unfortunately
for the penguins if more of them started gathering there to eat, more
predators would gather to eat them.  As it stands now, Antarctic penguin
populations are pretty stable, and in some species growing.  Antarctic
penguins also are well adapted to their climate.  They have thicker
feathers than northern penguins do.  They also have more feathers in
general than northern penguins.  These additional, thicker feathers protect
Antarctic penguins from the harsh weather and cold waters they encounter.

Thanks for your question!
Steven