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06-11-2006, 06:19 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Watching the EmperorPenguins on Planet Earth transfering an egg at -21 degrees
I wondered why their feet do not freeze ,I have seen Flamingoes frozen into the ice in this country that lose a limb!
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06-11-2006, 06:58 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Berkshire
Posts: 1,626
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
They did not say why their feet do not freeze but I thought it was rather sweet that the Dads stay there to look after the eggs while the Mums trek off to slightly warmer climes to get food. I had not realised that.
Remind me not to be reincarnated as a male emperor penguin!
Jenny |
06-11-2006, 07:59 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: currently in canada but before that lived in a caravan in north somerset
Posts: 36
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
many living things that survive in those temperatures are capable of producing what we can only describe as natuaral anti freeze style proteins that prevent ice from forming in their cells. I know this is true for many fish and whales and even trees and many other plants that have evolved under these conditions. im lacking some good references here but will try and dig something solid up.  |
06-11-2006, 09:42 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 409
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Quote: |
Originally Posted by peppermint i found this website that explains the answer (assuming it is accurate)
| You beat me - I was just going to suggest that it was probable something like this.
It was interesting to see that they actually melted the snow in the area of their 'huddles', but difficult to understand why they seemed to shuffle off to other areas. Melting snow requires a lot of energy and I would have thought they would benefit greatly from staying on the already-melted spot. |
06-11-2006, 10:23 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Stockport, Cheshire
Posts: 226
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Airehead You beat me - I was just going to suggest that it was probable something like this.
It was interesting to see that they actually melted the snow in the area of their 'huddles', but difficult to understand why they seemed to shuffle off to other areas. Melting snow requires a lot of energy and I would have thought they would benefit greatly from staying on the already-melted spot. | trouble is, melted snow i.e. water is possibly the last thing you want to add to 100 mph and -60 deg winds! At least snow will have some insulating properties and thus not carry too much heat away...? |
06-11-2006, 11:38 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,039
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Gold fish can survive a frozen pond as well.
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07-11-2006, 09:16 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Letchworth Garden City
Posts: 1,333
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Beryl Gold fish can survive a frozen pond as well. | But only if the water is deep enough for them to stay below the ice layer, and if the ice does not remain unbroken for too long to deprive them of oxygen. |
07-11-2006, 11:42 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,389
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
There is actually a book published by New Scientist magazine titled "Why don't penguins' feet freeze?". Call me illogical if you will, but I think it might just contain the answer to this question! Those nice South Americans might supply it.
henrya
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08-11-2006, 09:53 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,692
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jennyb Remind me not to be reincarnated as a male emperor penguin!
Jenny | better that than an albatross , i noticed (also in new scientist) that on christian de cuhna baby albatrosses are being gnawed on by outsized House Mice - ouch 
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10-11-2006, 05:30 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gtr Manchester
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| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
I have often wondered that too and about all birds having cold feet not just penguins. Am off to read up on it!
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10-11-2006, 05:40 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Cheshire UK
Posts: 843
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
One of the ways hot animals can survive cold is by using something called counter current heat exchange. Hot blood leaving the body meets cold blood returning warms it reducing the impact of cooling. It also helps to have more fats (lipids) in the blood and having cells with a very low water content that can respire anaerobically (without the need for oxygen). Just a few options but not sure which ones penguins use. You might also consider that although antartic snow is cold it is a dry powder which can insulate if it builds up enough, or you stay still and hide your feet.  |
10-11-2006, 10:01 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,692
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
the book - why dont penguins feet freeze and 1001 similar questions - from new scientist magazine is now available in tescos for the princely sum of £3.75
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11-11-2006, 10:51 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Cheshire UK
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| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Quote:
Originally Posted by eeyore  the book - why dont penguins feet freeze and 1001 similar questions - from new scientist magazine is now available in tescos for the princely sum of £3.75 | My thoughts on-line for free. Send £3-75 to WAB  |
16-11-2006, 05:53 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,173
| | | Re: Why Don't Penguins Feet Freeeeze
Just found this... the true answer to why penguins feet dont freeze Photo in the News: Penguin Shoes Ensure "Happy" Feet  jaki
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