If a second grader is asked to mimic a penguin, what would he do? He would waddle, of course, he would; but do we even know why do penguins waddle?  Let’s get into facts and scientific explanations of their distinctive gait.  Before that lemme share a “Yo mama” joke; Yo Mamma is so fat that even penguins are jealous of the way she waddles 😂

Scientists believe that penguins didn’t waddle centuries ago by studying their fossils, as they have become more and more efficient in swimming over the last centuries; they have become a little bit clumsy on land. Penguins have large webbed feet whilst short legs; and when they walk, they give a comical look. But this so called “comical look” is the best possible way for them to walk. As penguins totter from one side to another, they store this energy as their potential energy and use it as kinetic in their other side of swing. This way they have to use less energy which makes their gait more efficient. But still, they spend twice much energy as any other terrestrial animal while walking. If penguins didn’t have stubby legs they wouldn’t waddle too. But waddling is the best possible gait for penguins giving their physique. Meanwhile, these short legs of theirs help them in swimming and diving.

Read more about why do penguins huddle and how do penguins sleep.

What is the scientific explanation about penguin’s waddle?

The scientific explanation of penguin’s waddle is that they have large webbed feet and short legs. They waddle to conserve their energy.

When a penguin waggles, it conserves its energy which is the most needed thing in those severe climatic conditions.  Now the question is how waddling conserves energy?

When penguins waddle from one side to another, they store their energy as potential energy and they use it back as kinetic on the other side of their swing resulting in a much less consumption of energy. This increases their energy recovery rate. What’s energy recovery rate? When we walk, we fall forward with every step using gravity to our advantage. Normally, if we don’t walk like this and depend solemnly on our body structure and muscles we would consume 65% more energy. This conservation of energy is called energy recovery rate. By waddling, penguin’s energy recovery rate has gone up to 80% which is the most among any terrestrial animal. But still they spend more energy in walking on land than other animals. In order to summarize, I would say they don’t have perfect tools to walk on land but they have got the perfect way. And on the plus side this physique helps them to be the best swimmers.

Do Penguins waddle or wobble?

Most of the Penguins waddle but some of the fat and chubby penguins waddle wobbly. As they have more body fat on the front side, their center of gravity also comes forward, making a difficult posture to stand just like pregnant women. Scientists suggest that these penguins are at higher risk to be caught by their predators than normal penguins. They are easy to be spotted and they can’t run for life when being chased as they are less steady on their feet. Scientific work these days include experiments on penguins and their gait to create a better biomechanics approach for pregnant ladies.

How much energy is stored by waddling?

As penguins don’t have the best physical posture to walk; they waddle. They conserve almost 60% energy by waddling as compared to normal walk (if they could). Though they don’t have the best tools to conserve their energy but what they do have is the best technique. This is the biggest number of energy recovery rate as compared to any animal but still penguins spend almost twice much energy as any other terrestrial animal of their weight; for example, dog.

Biomechanics of Penguins and other terrestrial animals

What we call as penguins waddle is termed as biomechanics of gait of penguins in scientific terms. Penguins function on frontal plain dynamics which is less stable and require greater neural control while humans work on sagittal plane dynamics of gait which is more stable than frontal one and are less dependent on neural control. Recent experiments have proved that waddling has ensured stability in sagittal plain dynamics of gait. There is less variability found in step width of penguins as compared to step length. See the full experimental data and analysis on penguin’s gait here.

What is the role of penguin’s feet in waddle?

Penguins have short legs and large webbed feet. They don’t really help them in movement on land. These feet make them an excellent swimmer and diver. Their claws are useful in getting a hold on ice while standing in a storm.

Penguin’s feet are one of the reasons they waddle. Their short and strong legs and big webbed feet make it comfortable for them to waddle rather than walk. These nano legs and big feet elevate their body’s center of mass; minimizing the consumption of energy and preventing the heat loss from body. 

What are the advantages of webbed feet of penguins?

Webbed feet help penguins to fly underwater. Their bodies are stream-lined which reduces the drag makes them more comfortable in water than on land. But these webbed feet are the reason they stand on the ground.

How did penguins evolve their gait?

Scientists believe that ancient penguins didn’t waddle. But as the time passed, they evolved into a better swimmer. Just like that it is also believed that penguins were able to fly back then, but now; they can’t. Do you know why can’t penguins fly?

Instead of flying or walking on land they have adapted themselves more in aquatic life. They can fly underwater at ease. It’s easy for them to find prey their and easy to evade any kind of predator’s threat.

How do Penguins walk on ice?

When it comes to walking on ice, I would say just copy them. Waddle like a penguin on ice. The best possible way to walk on ice is to waddle. It reduces the threat of fall as waddling provides a better grip on ice making it easy to walk on.

How do Emperor penguins walk?

Emperor Penguins just like other penguins waddle but they also toboggan. It helps them in covering look distances as less energy is required in to do so. The pace of tobogganing varies. Laying whole body on soft snow increase the contact area; thus making it difficult to sink in the snow. Penguins prefer to toboggan on descending slops.

As tobogganing is helpful for transportation to penguins, it also has some disadvantages. Rubbing their belly with snow produces heat which is beneficial to keep body warm but it torn apart their plumage. The damage of their insulating surface can cause major problems for penguins.  

How do king penguins walk?

Gait of king penguins is similar to emperor penguins. They are good swimmers and divers just like other penguins but they also face difficulty on land as they have short legs and large webbed feet. As they are the second biggest penguins, so their body mass is best suitable for waddling.

How do Rock hopper penguins walk?

Just like other penguins, they also face difficulty on land. But they don’t toboggan as other penguins. As clear from the name, they move by hopping from one rock to another.

Fun Fact: These penguins can jump up to six feet.

Do you know why do penguins huddle? Click here to get answer.

Do Penguins have knees?

Penguins have knees, but still they prefer to waddle as it is more efficient gait. Their knees are covered with feathers giving a figure of short leg. They don’t only have knee but a femur, a tibia and a fibula just like humans. They are covered with feathers to prevent drastic climatic conditions.

Why is penguins waddle funny?

Ahh! Penguins waddle is the most cutest and funny thing. They look funny because.. I don’t think it is answerable question LOL 😂 .It is just a feeling like you can’t say why fire is hot. Now that I have wrote this I feel dumb because fire is hot due to thermal energy produced during combustion reaction.