Sphenisciformes: Test Your Understanding
Teacher's Guide
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What is the common name of the members of the order Sphenisciformes?
The sole members of the order Sphenisciformes are the penguins.
Where do extant members of the Sphenisciformes live? Where have fossil Sphenisciformes been found?
Modern-day penguins live mostly in cold southern oceans. Fossils of penguins have been found in
Antarctica, Australia, and South Africa, approximately near the range of present-day penguins.
List three behaviors that demonstrate how some Sphenisciformes species are social animals.
Sample answer: Penguins are social animals because they breed in large colonies, because some males
and females participate cooperatively in caring for nestlings, and because the older young of some
species are kept in large groups.
Critical Thinking: Suggest reasons why some members of the Sphenisciformes might live in colonies.
Sample answer: In a penguin colony, individuals can group together to preserve warmth. This would
be especially important for penguin colonies living in very cold climates, such as Antarctica, where
shelter is hard to find. Living in colonies might also help penguins find food, because a group can
work cooperatively to catch prey. Finally, a colony of penguins might be better able to protect its young
from predators.
