Story: Penguins

Porpoising

Porpoising

Penguins are divers rather than fliers, but they still understand that air offers less resistance than water. When travelling at the surface, as opposed to chasing food, some species (including the Snares crested, shown here) commonly ‘fly’ out of the water at each thrust of their flippers, getting further than if they stayed in the water. This mode of travel is known as porpoising.

Using this item

Adelie Productions
Photograph by Lloyd Spencer Davis

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Lloyd Spencer Davis, 'Penguins - The penguin history of New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6398/porpoising (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Lloyd Spencer Davis, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 11 Jul 2016