Hobbies And Interests
Increase Temperature
Since penguins produce heat, huddling can increase density, and allows heat and temperature to increase within the huddled group. As penguins are endothermic animals, meaning they maintain a constant internal body temperature, they exert lots of energy for warmth. The colder they are, the more energy they exert. Penguins in a group can eliminate energy loss by as much as half when compared to a singular penguin in cold weather.
Emergencies
Although huddling is a regular behavior, it is far more common during turbulent weather. As the arctic regions can experience extremely low temperatures and wind speeds often zooming past 100 mph, huddling together provides far more protection as a collective mass.
Self-Sacrifice
Penguins use a form of sign language behavior when in groups. Much of their behavior is of a group mentality as opposed to the individual. When huddling, penguins will alternate positions. As the outside positions take the brunt of the cold, those on the inside will gradually alternate with them. The result is a collective shift of penguins taking turns suffering in the cold.
Reproduction and Communication
Huddling brings penguins close together; this can be a time where females judge males, figuring out which one they want to mate with. Females strive for large and fat males, as the male will be responsible for sitting over the egg for four months during the winter. Over the nine week incubation period, the male won't eat, as the egg will depend upon his warmth for survival. Huddling in groups helps to conserve warmth for males, as well as the eggs, both of which need all the energy they can get.