Learn why penguins are black on top and white underneath, and how this special coloring helps them stay hidden from other animals in the ocean.
Hi there! Let's talk about penguins and their cool colors. Penguins have black backs and white bellies. This coloring helps them hide from other animals when they swim in the ocean.
Imagine you're looking down from above the water. The penguin's black back blends in with the dark ocean water, so it's hard to see.
Now, if someone underwater looks up at the penguin, they see the penguin's white belly. The white belly matches the lighter surface of the water and the sky, so the penguin is hard to spot from below too!
This special coloring is called countershading, and it helps penguins stay safe by hiding them from animals that might want to catch them.
Isn't that amazing? Penguins use their colors like a superhero uses a secret disguise!