Find Out Why Penguins “Porpoise”

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A person could be forgiven for thinking that penguins are clumsy creatures while watching them waddle around inelegantly on land. However, when penguins hit the water, the clumsiness disappears and it becomes apparent that they were born to swim. The video above shows a captivating view of a group of gentoo penguins leaping out of the water as if they were dolphins in a behavior known as porpoising.

These gentoo penguins live in the Falkland Islands among the largest colony of penguins in the world. Unlike emporer penguins that inhabit the ice, gentoo penguins roam sandy shores and grassy fields where the summers are warm, and in the winter the snow doesn’t often stick to the ground. The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic are home to five species of penguins. The penguins seen jumping in the rough waters in the video above are returning home after a day spent catching fish in the ocean.

What is Porpoising?

The penguins in the video are porpoising. Porpoising is when a dolphin, for example, cuts through the water by jumping completely above the water’s surface and then diving back in. But dolphins and porpoises aren’t the only animals to exhibit this behavior. In addition to penguins, harbor seals and killer whales have been seen porpoising through the water. However, not every penguin species can porpoise. Emperor penguins are not known to jump through the water in this matter, while king penguins have occasionally been spotted porpoising. On the other hand, gentoo penguins are well known for their expert porpoising.

Why Do Penguins Porpoise?

Penguins can’t fly but can move through the water at impressive speeds. By porpoising, the penguins move much faster than if they were only swimming. Scientists have come up with several reasons why porpoising might be advantageous to penguins as they move through the water.

To conserve energy

Porpoising propels the penguins through the water faster than swimming, but it uses less energy. When an animal swims near the surface of the water they must swim through the tension which can slow things down. By leaping out of the water at intervals and diving back in, penguins and other animals that porpoise use less energy but move at a faster rate.

To breathe air

Although gentoo penguins are excellent divers and can go far beneath the water’s surface to depths of 650 feet and stay under for up to seven minutes, they still need to breathe air. During porpoising, the penguins can catch a breath while airborne but still keep on the move.

To travel quickly over long distances

Penguins sometimes need to travel far to find their food. They can reach hunting grounds much faster by porpoising than swimming.

To check out their surroundings above water

As penguins leap out of the water, they get a view of what’s going on around them. There are many predators out there, and penguins need to be aware of what’s going on below and above the water.

To escape predators

Porpoising may confuse some underwater predators. It also can help the penguins get away from a dangerous situation as fast as possible.

Because it’s fun

Penguins are playful birds and love to socialize with each other. In aquariums, where there are no predators around, penguins will still porpoise through the water sometimes. In the wild, gentoo penguins have been seen porpoising side by side during mating season in what appears to be racing.

How Do Penguins Keep Warm During Porpoising?

The water and air can be frigid in the subantarctic waters where gentoo penguins live. Leaping in and out of chilly waters would make most animals freeze. And yet, these flightless birds never have icy feathers. There are two ways penguins keep toasty warm despite the climate.

First, when they preen their feathers they spread a waterproof oil, which comes from the feather glands, all over their bodies, keeping them dry underneath. Secondly, their feathers are known as nano-grooved. Cold-weather penguin species, like the gentoo, have nano-grooved feathers that help water droplets roll off the bird’s body, rather than sticking around and freezing.

This amazing feature, which comes naturally to the penguins, is being studied by scientists for possible human uses to prevent things like power lines, airplane wings, and diving suits from freezing.

What Predators Must Penguins Watch Out For?

When penguins are out hunting for fish, porpoising helps keep them moving fast and away from danger. On land, penguins live in areas with few predators, as they are fairly helpless when not in the water. Although they are efficient swimmers and can escape quickly when at sea, leaving the land does pose a risk. Some of the deadly predators out lurking for the penguins include killer whales, leopard seals, and sea lions.

What Else Poses a Threat to Penguins

Unfortunately, climate change is the number one danger to penguins. Over half of the world’s 18 penguin species are listed as vulnerable or endangered. While climate change is moving the gentoo penguins’ habitats further south, it’s devastating for some species, including the emperor penguin, which relies on sea ice for its breeding grounds.