A waddle is a waddle, right? New data on the penguin strut may suggest otherwise.
The study, which was measured by placing penguins on a little treadmill, was specifically about whether fatter king penguins have a different way of walking than their thin counterparts. A research team led by Astrid Willener from the University of London needed to see firsthand how fat penguins walk versus thin penguins. The team found out that the slimmer penguins may have a better chance of living through tough, Antarctic winters.
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A penguin's weight can be a big factor in its survival. King penguins are "serially monogamous," which means they take one mate for the whole mating season but usually find another by next season.
A season lasts 14-16 months for them, longer than other penguin species, so male penguins often have to fast for long periods of time while watching their chicks. A really heavy penguin can fast for longer because it has more body fat, but the study wondered if they may also be slower or easier prey for predators.
Ultimately, while there was no evidence that fatter penguins walk significantly differently, thinner penguins are indeed a little more agile and less prone to falling. “Waddling amplitude, leaning amplitude and leaning angle all remained fairly constant across the two body masses,” the study, published on PLoS ONE, concluded.
Hopefully, the penguins enjoyed their treadmill exercise.
[H/T: The Guardian]