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Why are penguins unable to fly ?


Saru

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A team of scientists has been attempting to determine why penguins are unable to take to the skies.

The researchers tagged murres with recorders that measured the time of dives as well as depth and temperature, and cormorants with data-loggers that measured depth, temperature and acceleration changes during dives.

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I was under the impression that the reason why they couldn't fly was:

They don't have feathers like flying-birds;

and that they are too pudgy for their slim wings.

Edited by Skeptic Chicken
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Glad to see some other country wasting money on stupid research for a change.

Its usually the USA complaining about the economy while spending on dumb stuff like this.

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Penguins "fly" underwater.But if they could fly thru the air the Sealions / Orca's would go hungry.When they leap out of the water and jump 30/50 feet is that considered flying or jumping to the nearest land/berg ?

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Well, at a guess their wings aren't big enough.

Can i get a grant of millions for this painstaking research, please?

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Well, at a guess their wings aren't big enough.

Can i get a grant of millions for this painstaking research, please?

Only if I can be your helper.
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I'm very glad penguins can't fly - it would make things really difficult at tea-time!

thCA4UVEXV_zpsbeaba454.jpg

Mrs.E hates it when someone gets chocolate on the ceiling!

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I'm very glad penguins can't fly - it would make things really difficult at tea-time!

thCA4UVEXV_zpsbeaba454.jpg

Mrs.E hates it when someone gets chocolate on the ceiling!

HaHA, theres a valley on the Falklands that's about 6 inches deep in Penguin Poo,just as well cows don't fly eh.
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It's just too darn hard to fly in a tuxedo.

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Yeah, penguin obesity is 100%.

So, with their genetic appetite, swimming seems more appropriate.

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I think the obvious answer is that they're just too fat and their wings are too small " no professional scientific proof needed"

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I think the obvious answer is that they're just too fat and their wings are too small " no professional scientific proof needed"

Yep you're right,its not Rocket science to work it out,so why are these guys being given a grant of X amount of cash to Prove it ?
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Yep you're right,its not Rocket science to work it out,so why are these guys being given a grant of X amount of cash to Prove it ?

exactly, next thing you know they're gonna be spending more money on research explaining why an ostrich can't fly * sigh*
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I was under the impression that the reason why they couldn't fly was:

They don't have feathers like flying-birds;

and that they are too pudgy for their slim wings.

They do have feathers but specialized ones for waterproofing and insulation, not flight. I believe that unlike flying birds they also do not have hollow bones. They need the extra weight to submerge more easily.

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Seriously all you need to do is take one look at them to realize why.

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The question in the article is about the evolutionary reason why penguins cannot fly. Why did they evolve from a flying bird to a swimming only bird?

Not the obvious reason like others here have stated.

Did anyone read the article?

Edited by DKO
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Can I join the research team, 1. They originated in outerspace and landed in our oceans, 2. They were breed for thier feathers for pillows then evolved with out feathers for flight.3.they evolved from sea creatures not birds!

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The question in the article is about the evolutionary reason why penguins cannot fly. Why did they evolve from a flying bird to a swimming only bird?

Not the obvious reason like others here have stated.

Did anyone read the article?

I think the title of the thread has mislead some posters. 'Why did penguins loose the ability to fly' would have been more fitting...

Regardless though, the fat penguin jokes are fun, the next study lined up is 'Why don't Giraffes graze on grass'...

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I think the title of the thread has mislead some posters. 'Why did penguins loose the ability to fly' would have been more fitting...

Regardless though, the fat penguin jokes are fun, the next study lined up is 'Why don't Giraffes graze on grass'...

Haha that's a good one.

Yes penguins are one of those animals that just look like jokers.

cant-fly-best-demotivational-posters.jpg

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You're all wrong:

Your not spreading dis-information are you ;)

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Penguins do fly, they just do it underwater.

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Penguins do fly, they just do it underwater.

Why don't they just swim in the air then? ;)

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