4 Life Cycles of Marine Animals Scientists believe that all life on Earth began in the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago Today thousands of different animal species live in and around the ocean No one knows exactly how many different species of marine animals there are hundreds of new species are discovered every year Although they share the same saltwater habitat all marine animals grow and change differently over time Each species has its own unique life cycle The life cycles of marine animals can be as different as the animals themselves Life Cycles All living things have a life cycle An animal’s life cycle begins when it is born and is completed when it has young of its own During their life cycles different species grow and change in different ways Everything an animal does throughout its life cycle happens so that it can survive long enough to reproduce Without this circle of life all living things would become extinct
5 Emperor Penguins To survive in some of the coldest and most dangerous places on Earth emperor penguins have developed a unique life cycle Swimming Birds Emperor penguins are large flightless birds They do not need to fly as they are great swimmers Like other birds emperor penguins lay eggs and look after their chicks once they have hatched When they swim emperor penguins look like they are flying underwater Living Together Emperor penguins gather together in large groups called colonies to feed and breed By living together and helping each other emperor penguins have a better chance of surviving and completing their life cycles
6 6 short wings for swimming good eyesight above and below the water around 95 waterproof feathers per square inch of skin to keep its body dry and warm long thin beak for catching prey webbed feet for swimming streamlined body to glide through the water What Do Emperor Penguins Look Like Emperor penguins are the largest of all the different species of penguins They are birds with coloured feathers and have evolved short wings to help them swim 6 Size more than 47 inches 120 cm tall Weight up to 88 pounds 40 kg Color gray back black head white belly yellow and orange under the chin and around the ears VITAL STATISTICS
7 Height comparison Emperor penguin 47 inches 120 cm King penguin 35 inches 90 cm Chinstrap penguin 27 inches 68 cm Northern rockhopper penguin Eggs and chicks are kept off the cold ice by balancing on their parents feet (cid:43)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:75)(cid:83)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:94)(cid:77)(cid:90)(cid:77)(cid:76)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:78)(cid:92)(cid:20)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:93)(cid:78)(cid:78)(cid:97)(cid:3) feathers called down This silvery down helps to keep them warm Both male and female adult penguins have a brooding (cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:93)(cid:75)(cid:80)(cid:22)(cid:3)(cid:60)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:91)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:198)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3) that covers the egg and then the chick once it has hatched to keep them warm Little penguin 17 inches 43 cm Gentoo penguin 30 inches 75 cm 29 inches 50 cm
