A collection of trivia quizzes about penguins: little-known facts about their ecology and fun tidbits.

36km/h

The Gentoo penguin is the fastest-swimming species of penguin. It can swim at speeds of up to 36 km/h. By the way, many people think penguins have yellow feet, but in fact, the Gentoo penguin is the only species whose feet are yellow.

About 130 cm

The emperor penguin is the largest species among living penguins and is known for breeding in Antarctica. As adults, they can reach about 130 cm in height.

Shimonoseki City

Shimonoseki City has designated the penguin as its city bird. This stems from the affection citizens have had for penguins since an emperor penguin was donated to the Shimonoseki aquarium in 1957. Many penguins are still kept at Kaikyokan, the aquarium in Shimonoseki.

Actually, it is long and hidden inside the body.

A penguin’s legs are very short and look disproportionately small compared to its body. However, they’re actually long and folded up, hidden inside the body. In human terms, it’s as if they’re in a squatting position. But because the joints are fixed in this configuration, they can’t straighten their legs.

two types

Only two penguin species breed exclusively in Antarctica: the emperor penguin and the Adélie penguin. Other penguin species may breed in regions outside the Antarctic continent or on islands around Antarctica.

39 years

The longest recorded lifespan of a penguin in captivity is 39 years. The penguin that lived the longest in the world was Ginkichi, a king penguin that was kept at Nagasaki Aquarium until 2002.

9 types

At the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium, nine species of penguins are kept. The Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium is the aquarium in Japan where you can see the greatest variety of penguin species.