Hobbies And Interests
Hunting Abilities
Penguins learn to hunt through instincts and through trial and error. Juvenile penguins learn to hunt fast, as their survival depends on it. Although penguins are fast learners and very soon imbibe the ability to hunt and to defend themselves from predators, a large proportion of juveniles lose their lives while developing this independence.
Depending upon the species, juvenile penguins either return ashore at night after the hunt, or stay in the water until the requirement of breeding crops up. Penguins make good use of their speed and sharp eyesight for catching their prey. Although penguins lack teeth, their beaks have sharp edges, and spines lining their mouth and tongue prevent prey from slipping away.
Hunting Areas
Some penguins travel large distances in search of their preferred prey. The Adélie penguin is known to travel more than 550 miles in search of food, and emperor penguins go more than 900 miles. However, certain varieties do not travel far for food, instead using seal holes in the ice.
Diet
Adélie penguins prefer smaller varieties of krill, and chinstrap penguins gorge on the larger forms. Fish and squids form the food of emperor and king penguins. Food preferences among penguins are also influenced by their location. Penguins in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic generally eat krill and squid, and those farther north prefer fish.
Molting
After hatching, chicks rely on their parents for basic food requirements. This dependency continues until they molt and develop waterproof feathers. This could take anywhere between seven weeks to 13 months, depending on the species. In most species, once the chick acquires the waterproof feathers, it can venture out into the water and fend for itself. But some species, such as gentoo, remain dependent on their parents for food for about a month after molting.