Community Lens for April 27

Mel and Carol Goldstein submitted this photo from a recent trip to Antarctica. Six species of penguins are known to live on Antarctica. Penguins often are referred to as “flippered flyers” due to their effortless movement through the water and their possible evolution from gull-like birds. Part of their adaptation to the cold includes oily, unwettable feathers which cover the outer layers of penguins (and what gives that distinguished, well dressed look). Underneath is a layer of soft down feathers and under that a thick layer of fat. This keeps the penguins so warm they will actually fluff their feather to released trapped heat in order to cool down.