Penguin’s Waddle Helps Their Short Legs Go a Long Way

UC Berkeley researchers have found that the penguin’s characteristic side-to-side gait conserves energy, making the most of its short legs. “Our findings indicate that walking is expensive for penguins, not because of their waddling, but because they have such short legs that require their leg muscles to generate force very quickly when they walk,” said Timothy Griffin, a graduate student in integrative biology. A comparison of penguins and animals with similar leg lengths shows they burn about the same amount of calories, he reported in today’s Nature.