News Animals

Some penguins save energy by riding ocean currents

In heavy currents, Magellanic penguins swim smarter, not harder

A group of Magellanic penguins swims in the ocean.

To return home after long fishing trips, Magellanic penguins need to have a great sense of direction and the ability to expertly negotiate ocean currents.

LUIS ROBAYO/Contributor/Getty Images

By Sofia Caetano Avritzer

Sometimes, the best thing for a penguin is to go with the flow.

Magellanic penguins change their strategy for navigating home based on the strength of ocean currents, researchers report July 17 in PLOS Biology.