Scientists Identify Muscle Responsible for Penguins’ Waddling Gait

Scientists have pinpointed the muscle behind penguins’ waddle, @ScienceMagazine reported. The tissue forces the bird’s lower limbs to stay close to its body near the knees. Penguins are some of the world’s most charismatic birds.

They look like they’re wearing suits. They appear to fly underwater. And they waddle like sumo wrestlers. The adaptation not only contributes to penguins’ signature waddle but also helps keep their bodies streamlined when underwater.

This allows penguins to move efficiently on both land and sea.