Of the emperor penguins, males and females are difficult to distinguish, as they are very similar in size and physique. As adults they weigh up to 85 pounds and are 48 inches long.
Penguins are the most faithful companions
Emperor penguins are black on the back with a white front, they also have bright splashes of yellow and orange on the chest and ears; they are an emblematic species of Antarctica as they are very social animals, so they live in large colonies, which helps them keep warm during frost.
Although they always hang out in groups, penguins choose a partner for life, so it is believed that these animals are a symbol of romanticism because they are monogamous, and they have a special ritual to fall in love with their partner.
How do penguins fall in love?
When a male penguin falls in love with a female, he searches the beach for the perfect stone to give her. When he finally finds it, he bends down and places the stone in front of her.
If she takes the stone, it means she accepts the proposal.
Once a year they meet in the same place, which is called the wedding parade. Each memorizes the other’s song so well that, after months of separation, they manage to locate each other.
Courtship is a ritual. When a male courts a female, he puffs out his chest and tilts his head back, and both begin to emit loud, high-pitched brays. They may yell at each other for hours.
Many call these songs “the song of the heart,” for when a penguin pair joins together it is for life.
They are one of the most faithful species.
In addition, their cries are necessary at the time of reproduction, since when the female lays the egg she gives it to the male to incubate while she goes to feed for about sixty days.
Upon returning to the large colony, both males and females begin to sing in order to recognize the male with whom they left the egg. Some of the great qualities of emperor penguins are seen in their breeding process. They can mature and reproduce when they are between 4 and 8 years old.
In general, the smaller species of penguins mature at an earlier age than the larger ones, however, the smaller ones also seem to have a much shorter lifespan.
