Reproductive Adaptations in Penguins

In the United States, the image of a normal family has included a mother, a father, 2.5 kids, a dog, and of course, a white picket fence. However, over the years, this image has begun to dissipate. Truthfully, in recent years, there seems to be no such thing as a normal family. Our culture has become more and more supportive of adoption, divorce, interracial relationships, and even homosexual relationships. Despite this advancement in equality, things are not as idyllic as they appear. Rather unspeakable acts, such as prostitution, domestic violence, child abuse, and rape, have become all too common. However, neither of these extremes (from unconditional love to absolute selfishness) are purely human phenomenons. Other species possess these behaviors as well. Studies have shown that voluntary adoption occurs, although intermittently, in baboons, chimpanzees, and other primates (Bardi, 2011, p. 8). In contrast, coots are known to abuse chicks when their food supply becomes too low (Bardi, 2011, p. 4). From such observations, one can conclude humans do not differ from the rest of animal kingdom as much as previously thought.

Thesis Statement

Movies such as Mary Poppins, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, Happy Feet, Surf’s Up, and Madagascar have portrayed penguins as lovable, comical creatures with intelligent minds and adorable faces. Simply put: humans have idealized the penguin. Indeed, it is a well-known fact that most species of penguin form loyal monogamous bonds, also known as mating for life. However, there are other penguin facts which are largely unknown. For example, few individuals know that penguins have a body temperature between “100 and 102 degrees” Fahrenheit (Lynch, 1997, p. 35). When we remember that humans have a...

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