We all know that our bodies require certain amounts of proteins. Certain animals like the Adelie penguin from Antarctica molt or grow new feathers yearly. Their feathers are like puffy winter coats that help them sustain a constant body temperature. So when they don’t have this insulation they cannot go into the freezing ocean to feed or swim, they must remain on land. So how do they survive the time period of about the 20 days it takes for them to restore their feathers? Before the penguin molts it amplifies its muscle mass (A JACKED PENGUIN : D ). Then during those 20 days where the feathers are growing back the penguin survives by breaking down the extra muscle protein. This extra protein provides the penguin with the amino acids it needs to grow new feathers. What an awesome adaptation!
A cool picture of a molting King Penguin : http://www.galenfrysinger.com/penguins.htm
Fascinating, Veronica! And yes, what a great adaptation, breaking down those buff muscles for energy and using the amino acids to make feathers. Hmmm, what if the penguins had extra muscles, you know, were on growth enhancers? Would they grow extra feathers?
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