Around the world there are 16 penguin species, depending on whether two species of Eudyptula are also counted as species. Although all penguins are originally from the southern hemisphere, penguins are not only found in cold regions or in Antarctica alone. There are three species of penguins that live in the tropics. One species lives on the Galapagos Islands (Penguin Galapagos) and usually crossed the equator to find food.

The largest penguin species is the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) with a height of 1.1 meters and weighs 35 kilograms or more.

The smallest penguin species is the Fairy Penguins (Eudyptula Minor) with a height of about 40 cm and a weight of one kg. In general, large penguins can better maintain their body temperature so they can survive in cold areas, while smaller penguins are usually found in warmer areas even in tropical regions.