Maneuverability of the Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) during swimming

Analyses of high-speed film of captive Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) show that there is no correlation between the radii of submerged turns and swimming speed. The sharpest turns had a mean turn radius (n = 5) of 0.14 m (0.24 body lengths), were powered by beating wings, and used multiple steering structures (beak, tail, feet, wings) and a flexing body. This turn radius is similar to that of fast-swimming fish with rigid bodies and lunate tails but is greater than that of slower fish with flexible bodies. The maximum turning rate was 10.05 radians s⁻¹. Maneuverability is augmented by neck-extending strike behavior and porpoising leaps.