PENGUINS are flightless marine birds that live below the equator. Though they are birds, penguins have flippers instead of wings. They cannot fly and on land, they waddle walking upright, though when snow conditions are right, they will slide on their bellies. They are known as expert swimmers and divers in the water. Many penguins live in environments that do not offer freshwater. Penguins that live in Antarctica, have a choice of ice or saltwater. Penguins spend a lot of their time in salty waters, and as a result, will often drink this. They have a special adaptation to help keep their bodies’ salt levels balanced. Penguins drink the same way most birds do by swallowing water. They are specially designed to process salt water, even though their bodies do not need more salt than other animals.
They have a supraorbital gland located near their eyes. The supraorbital gland is a type of lateral nasal gland found in penguins, that filters salt out of their systems. Their blood travels through the gland, which traps the salt before it travels through their bodies. The gland’s function is similar to that of the kidneys, though it is much more efficient at removing salt, allowing penguins to survive without access to fresh water.
