From: "Guy Guthridge" <answer4@passport.ivv.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: Why do penguins live in Antarctica and not in the Arctic?
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 13:18:18 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: onair@passport.ivv.nasa.gov <onair@passport.ivv.nasa.gov>
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 1998 1:10 PM
Subject: Why do penguins live in Antarctica and not in the Arctic?


>Samantha D. asks this Question:
>
>Why do penguins live in Antarctica and not in the Arctic?
>
>
>Answer:

The Antarctic has been isolated for millions of years from the other
continents, and birds therefore had time to evolve into the nonflying
species that we know as penguins.  The evolution took place because as
Antarctica cooled and got its ice sheet the food supply came from only one
place -- the sea.  The birds evolved to be able to get their food there.

In the Arctic the adjacent continents had numerous land animals such as
foxes that could catch a nonflying bird for food.  So over time only the
flying species thrived there, and there was no reason for penguins to come
into existence.

Good question, Samantha D.  Keep up the good work!

Guy Guthridge
National Science Foundation
>
>