Swimming is a particular penguin talent
Penguins are oceanic birds that live up to 75% of their lives underwater. Even penguins with barnacles sprouting on their plumage, such as the Fiordland and rockhopper species, have been discovered. The fact that penguins spend so much time in the water accounts for a large portion of what looks strange about them.
The best thing that penguins do is swim. On land, a penguin's clumsy waddle can be amusing, but that's because they were built to swim. Because of their torpedo-shaped bodies and strong flippers, penguins are adaptable sea magicians that can swim long distances and at extreme depths. On land, their legs and feet, which are far back on the body, help them waddle, but underwater, they function as streamlined rudders to reduce drag.
Additionally, they can go through tense water because of their well-developed wing and breast muscles. The hemoglobin in penguin blood is modified to deliver significant amounts of oxygen to aid in the effort of swimming. Because their muscular tissues contain a significant amount of myoglobin, penguins can effectively retain oxygen when they are underwater. To provide the least amount of water resistance when swimming, they keep their bodies compact by tucking their heads close to their shoulders and their feet close to their tails. Underwater, penguin vision is superior to that on land.
A penguin may paddle like a duck at the water's surface, yet underneath the waves, they travel at speeds quicker than Olympic swimmers. The emperor penguin, which can move at a top speed of 9 mph (14 km/h), likes to go at a constant 7 mph. The tiny penguin, the tiniest penguin, meanders at a leisurely 1 mph (1.5 km/h), whereas most medium penguins swim at roughly 5 mph (8 km/h). A migrating penguin frequently uses the swimming maneuver known as porpoising to maintain its surface within 3 to 6.5 feet.
