Tag: animals

elodieunderglass:

zoologicallyobsessed:

Ever Wondered How Emperor Penguins Survive in Temperatures of

−40°C

? 

Their feathers are densely packed, and have in fact the highest contour feather destiny of any bird, allowing them to maintain a constant body temperature of 38°C in freezing waters. 

Depsite previous reports that filoplumes and plumules aka.downy feathers, are absent in penguins, new research has found the presence of both feathers in the penguin’s plumage. It was assumed before this that afterfeathers were the sole insulation

component in the penguin’s plumage. 

These downy feathers are about four times denser than the afterfeathers of the bird and play a key role in the insulation of penguins.

‘Hidden keys to survival: the type, density, pattern and functional role of emperor penguin body feathers’. Williams C, Hagelin J, Kooyman G. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.  21 October 2015. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2033 

god there’s something horrid and fantastic about this dense, sinful slice of penguin. This feels like something that should be private. We should thank the penguins for the insight, and then we should gently replace that which we should not have witnessed. This knowledge has a heavy weight

cool-critters:

Green oropendola (Psarocolius viridis)

The green oropendola is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is found in wooded habitats in the Amazon basin and Guianas of South America, and is generally common. Uniquely among the oropendolas,
the green oropendola has a pale bill with an orange tip. The male green oropendola grows to a length of about 43 cm and the female about 37 cm.This bird usually moves through the forest canopy in mixed species
flocks. It is an omnivore, foraging for fruits and insects among the
leaves and branches. By consuming whole fruits, it acts as a seed
disperser.

photo credits:
Ingrid Torres de Macedo,
Arjan Haverkamp