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What are penguins related to2007-11-24 17:16:34Answers:

PENGUINS

Flightless, swimming seabirds widespread in the Oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. They range from the icy shores of Antarctica north along the temperate coasts to the Gal谩pagos Islands on the Equator. The 15 species in 6 genera constitute the only family, Spheniscidae, in the order Sphenisciformes. Penguins have no close living relatives but may be distantly allied to the petrels, Procellariiformes. Originally, "penguin" was applied to the now extinct great auk (q.v.) of the North Atlantic. Fossil penguins are known from early Eocene to mid - Miocene deposits in southern South America, Antarctica, New Zealand, and Australia. Some of the fossil species were up to 5 ft. high.

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(Very interesting following: Female & Male parents share nest duties but the role of each varies with the species. In the Emperor, which breeds during the cold and dark of the Antarctic winter, the Male alone incubates without feeding for 2 months. In the Ad茅lie, which nests in the spring, the parents change places at least once during the 35 - day incubation period, and in more northerly species the changeover may be twice daily. Newly hatched young penguins are scantily clad with down and must be brooded by the adults. Later, after they develop a heavy down coat, they gather groups in the colonies, and feed them at the nest site. The young must wait until they are fully grown and feathered before going into the water and feeding independently of the adults. All but the King breed annually, but because its egg, chick, and molt periods occupy 13 months, a King penguin may breed successfully only twice every three years.

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they are related to birds.