QUESTION:
How long is a penguin in an egg?

        Sharon R. 14 years old,  8th grader at
        Ridgeview Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia.

ANSWER from Steve Downey, Antarctic Expert
            Fri, 7 Feb 1997 09:07:55 -0500

Dear Sharon,

Incubation time for penguins varies by species.  In general, it takes 4 to
6 weeks.  Some species, like the erect-crested penguin, take only a month
to hatch.  The Emperor penguin, however, takes between 62 to 66 days to hatch.

In all cases, except the Emperor penguin, the incubating process is shared
by the parents.  For the Emperor, the male does the majority of the work.
After the egg is laid by the female, she heads for the sea to feed.
She won't return until just before the egg is due to hatch (almost two months
later).  During this time, the male keeps the egg warm by balancing the egg
on his feet to keep it off of the freezing ground and covering it with a
thick layer of feathers from his lower body.

Also, he doesn't eat anything during the entire courting and incubating
period (over three months).  He spends most of time sleeping and survives
on the fat stored in his body.

Thanks for your question!
Steve