Penguin Pop Quiz: 10 Questions About These Flightless Birds

The word "penguin" was originally used for which bird?

• Emperor Penguin
• Great Auk
• Puffin
• Arctic Tern

What is the only penguin species found north of the equator?

• King Penguin
• Galapagos Penguin
• African Penguin
• Humboldt Penguin

What is a group of penguins in the water called?

• Colony
• Waddle
• Raft
• Pod

Why are penguins black and white?

• To attract mates
• To absorb more sunlight
• For camouflage, known as countershading
• To regulate body temperature on land

Which penguin is known as the fastest underwater swimmer?

• Emperor Penguin
• Little Blue Penguin
• Gentoo Penguin
• Macaroni Penguin

How do emperor penguins incubate their eggs?

• In nests built of pebbles
• In burrows dug in the snow
• On their feet, covered by a brood pouch
• The female incubates while the male hunts

What allows penguins to drink salt water?

• Specialized kidneys
• Supraorbital gland
• Highly efficient gills
• Ability to process salt in their stomach

How many penguin species are recognized by the International Ornithologists Union?

• 12
• 15
• 18
• 21

What is the oldest known fossil penguin species and where was it found?

• Icadyptes salasi in Peru
• Nordenskjold's Giant Penguin in Antarctica
• Waimanu manneringi in New Zealand
• Palaeeudyptes in Argentina

What do you call a penguin born with brown instead of black feathers?

• Albino Penguin
• Melanistic Penguin
• Isabelline Penguin
• Leucistic Penguin