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Where do penguins live? Learn more about the habitats for several penguin species.

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY
Updated
2 min read

Around 18 species of penguin can be found in living on Earth. Penguins can vary in size, with some weighing up to 88 pounds and standing over three feet tall, according to National Geographic.

Penguins are commonly associated with cold living conditions in the snowy and icy Antarctic. But, can all penguins be found there?

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Where do penguins live?

In the wild, most penguins live south of the equator. Many are found on the Antarctic coasts and sub-Antarctic islands, according to the Australian Antarctic Program.

However, depending on the species, some penguins can live in warmer climates, such as the Galápagos penguinHumboldt penguins and Southern rockhopper penguins. Certain penguin species can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Peru, among other countries.

Penguins live in a wide range of temperatures. Along the coast of Patagonia in Chile, temperatures can reach up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while sea ice in Antarctica can reach a chilling negative 76 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Smithsonian.

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As for snow, Antartica does not get as much as you would think per year. Windy conditions on the continent make it hard for exact measurements. Across Antartica, the average accumulation of snow is estimated to be around 150 millimeters, or under six inches, of water per year, says the Australian Antarctic Program.

A Gentoo penguin and its chick in Cuverville Island, in the western Antarctic peninsula on March 04, 2016.
A Gentoo penguin and its chick in Cuverville Island, in the western Antarctic peninsula on March 04, 2016.

Just Curious?  We're here to answer your everyday questions.

What do penguins eat?

Penguins mostly eat fish, squid, crab and krill. However, some species of penguins' diets vary to avoid competition for food among each other.

For instance, smaller penguins consume krill and squid, while larger species eat fish.

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Are penguins birds?

Yes, penguins are seabirds. They are flightless birds and have flippers rather than wings, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Penguins cannot fly; instead, they waddle upright to get around. Polar penguins, those who live in the Antarctic regions, will travel long distances by "tobogganing," or gliding across the ice on their bellies.

Additionally, penguins can swim and dive with some species reaching speeds up to 15 miles per hour underwater.

A four-month old emperor penguin chick is fed by its parent back from Atka Bay in Dronning Maud land, Antarctica.
A four-month old emperor penguin chick is fed by its parent back from Atka Bay in Dronning Maud land, Antarctica.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where do penguins live? The habitats for several penguin species

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