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Penguin Facts
There are many different kinds of penguins, but they all dwell in the frigid tundra of Antarctica where they are the only animal who remains during the winter season to breed on the ice. Emperor penguins are the largest penguins, standing nearly four feet tall; fairy penguins are the smallest at a mere 16 inches. All penguins' bodies are designed for swimming. Streamlined and smooth, penguins have large heads, short necks and long bodies with short wedge-like tails and webbed feet.
Penguin Feet
Penguin legs are short but strong. Their feet are webbed and have claws on them that are visible to the naked eye. These claws are part of what keeps penguins from slipping on the ice. Since penguins are a bit like fish out of water when they waddle on land, they must use their claws to dig into the ice, which gives them traction and helps keep them steady.
Foot Placement
Penguins' feet are webbed which helps with swimming, and are set back on their bodies. This placement helps penguins swim more efficiently, but it also enables them to stand vertically and walk upright on land, unlike many other birds. Because their legs are short, penguins must take small steps or tiny hops. When traversing a steep incline, penguins may use their bills or tails to help them scale the hill. The maximum walking speed for a penguin varies from about 2.5 mph for a small Adelie penguin to under two mph for a large Emperor penguin.
Foot Structure
Another factor of penguin feet which keeps them from slipping is their structure. While penguin feet are one of only two poorly insulated areas on a penguin's body (the other is their flippers), the tendons and muscles that control a penguin's feet are located deep in the warmer regions of its body. This ensures that feet won't freeze or go numb resulting in loss of motion or dexterity. Even the blood flow through a penguin's feet is designed to drop below freezing point.