Animal Studies Lab

Penguins live in some of the most extreme weather, from the icy plains of Antarctica to the hot equatorial waters of the Galapagos. They spend months at a time in the ocean. Penguins are birds, but they don't have wings; they have flippers. They can't fly, and when they're on land, they walk upright. But when the snow is just right, they can slide on their belly parts. FACTS: The emperor penguin is the tallest living penguin, standing at approximately 1.1 to 1.3 meters. Penguins can drink salt water. Penguins are exceptional, specialized swimmers that use paddle-like flippers to fly underwater at speeds of 15-25 mph. A group of penguins is called a colony, rookery, or huddle when on land and a raft when in the water.  Chinstrap penguins survive by taking over 10,000 'microsleeps' per day, each lasting only about 4 seconds, for roughly 11 hours of daily rest.  Penguins are oviparous , laying one or two eggs per season. Penguins have a third eyelid known as a nicti...

Owls are hidden and profoundly interesting birds known for their silent flight and sharp hunting skills. The current reality is that they are unluckily losing habitat, with many species at risk of extinction. FACTS: Owl eyeballs are tube-shaped and are immovable. Allow full focus and boost their depth perception.  Owl can turn their necks to 270 degrees . Owls do not have teeth. There are over 250 species of owls in the world. A group of owls is called a 'parliament. Different species of owl have ears that are not only placed asymmetrically on their heads but are also different sizes. Not all owls hoot! Barn owls screech, scops owls trill and some species whistle instead. Forward-facing eyes give these owls BINOCULAR vision to better estimate distances to moving prey. Owls are important for controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecological balance. Most owls are able to fly silently through specialised wing feather adaptations that reduce noise, which is critical for noctu...