How do Emperors withstand cold?
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How does an Emperor penguin withstand the cold?

There are many ways in which Emperor penguins are adapted to their cold environment. We have listed a few below.

Penguins have a special system of feathers with the parts of the feather close to the body trapping a lot of air and so making for good insulation against the cold, while the outer tips interlock with one another to provide a waterproof outer layer.

Emperor penguins have a thick layer of blubber under their skin, which also helps insulate them from the extreme cold.

Emperor Penguins form huddles for protection against the weather and predators. Both adults and chicks will form huddles to protect themselves against the extreme cold and wind in the Antarctic winter.

They also have adaptations of their circulatory systems that allow them to keep their main organs warm, but let other parts of their body operate at lower temperatures. Penguins have specially adapted blood vessels in their feet to help them cope with standing on cold ice. The blood vessels supply just enough heat to prevent the penguins freezing to the ice, while at the same time keeping the heat loss to a minimum. The blood vessels carrying warm blood to the feet are intertwined with those carrying the cold blood back from the feet - in this way the returning blood is warmed and that going to the feet is cooled - thus reducing the overall heat loss.