Why do penguins look like they’re wearing tuxedos?

Because these flightless birds have a type of camouflage known as countershading, meaning their tops and bottoms don’t match. A penguin’s belly is a lighter tone to match the day-lit surface of the water above, while its back is dark to blend in with the murk below.

The bottom of the sea is darker than the top of the sea, since the top is closer to the sun’s light. Hunting animals are called predators, and animals like seals and sharks hunt penguins in the water. If one of these predators is above a penguin, it’s looking down at both the swimming penguin’s back and the deeper sea water. Since both the water and the penguin’s back are dark, the penguin is difficult to see!

On the other hand, if a predator is swimming below the penguin, it’s looking up at both the penguin’s white belly and the water near the surface. The light color of the belly is similar to the brightness of the water. The penguin blends in with its surroundings!

 

Picture Credit : Google