Otter penguin

The otter penguin, or simply penguin, is an animal native to the Water Tribes. Though most commonly found as wildlife in large colonies at the South Pole region's coast, otter penguins are also domesticated as pets by the people of the Southern Water Tribe.Avatar: The Last Airbender: Heart of a Hero, p. 5-7.
== History ==
=== Ancient times ===
Before the Southern Water Tribe was founded, there was already a civilization located at the South Pole. This civilization built significant stone structures, including a large temple carved into a mountain in the western South Pole. Later researchers discovered that this site, dubbed the "Glacial Temple", seemed to be dedicated to the Moon and Ocean, and it also featured many inscriptions carved into stone blocks and tablets. Notably, both the temple as well as other sites associated with this ancient culture featured great numbers of otter penguin statues, suggesting that the original builders had venerated these animals.
=== Eras of Aang and Korra ===
After being released from the iceberg, Aang's first request was to go penguin sledding with Katara, which she confusedly accepted. Later, upon seeing an otter penguin, a fascinated Aang immediately chased after it. Katara found him attempting to catch the animals, with little success. With Katara's help, he used fish to bait the penguins and, after being nearly trampled by the hungry creatures, managed to catch one on which he could go sledding. Katara caught a penguin for herself and joined Aang. As the two reached the end of the slope, their otter penguins tottered back up to the rest of the colony.
Aang later rode an otter penguin while returning to Katara's home village, Wolf Cove, after being banished, in order to save the residents from Zuko.
When Katara and Sokka returned to the Southern Water Tribe in 102 AG for the first time after the conclusion of the Hundred Year War, Katara spotted several young children sledding down a hill on otter penguins. Reminiscing about the day she first met Aang, she invited her brother to take an otter penguin and sled down the hill with her. Sokka complied though regretted his choice once he flew through the snow at high speeds and collided with a wooden beam at the bottom of the slope. As he sat in the snow, dazed due to the crash, his otter penguin happily waddled back to its group.
Later on, Katara and Sokka oversaw a group of Southern Water Tribe children at a camp. The children were accompanied by several otter penguins, with one of them even sitting at the nightly camp fire as Katara retold her adventures to entertain the children.
Otter penguins were employed by Wacky Wushu as performing animals for the Glacier Spirits Festival in 171 AG.
== Anatomy ==
The otter penguin is an aquatic, flightless, mammal-like bird found mainly in the Southern Water Tribe. It has four flippers and is approximately as tall as an adolescent human. The creature's face is somewhat otter-like, with a small black nose and whiskers. It has a short neck that blends smoothly into its chest, and its feet are webbed. The otter penguin's coloration is counter-shaded, meaning its back, tail, flippers, and head are black, while its underbelly is white.
== Behavior ==
Although awkward on land, otter penguins are talented and graceful swimmers. They enjoy sliding down the icy shelves and hills of the poles, with or without a human passenger. Their oily feathers protect them from the cold water and also allow them to slide down icy slopes. Using the creature as a sled is a common recreational activity in the Southern Water Tribe.
Otter penguins travel in large groups when on land. Though they will flee if chased, they can easily be lured with fish, which makes up most of its diet. It has one major natural predator, the tiger seal.
The people of the Southern Water Tribe are known to domesticate otter penguins as pets. Domesticated members of the species are tame enough to be companions for children. They can be trained to perform for entertainment purposes.
== Connection ==
The otter penguin in the World of Avatar in many ways resembles the real world penguin, specifically the emperor penguin and other larger breeds. The primary differences between the otter penguin and the real world penguin are the former's two extra flippers and otter-like face, which lacks a beak.
== Trivia ==
* Although they are hybridized creatures, otter penguins are usually referred to as just penguins.
* In "The Boy in the Iceberg" with Avatar Extras bonus commentary, otter penguins are referred to as penguin-otters. The commentary reveals that the whiskers on otter penguins are inspired by the Fu Manchu mustache.
* In the Avatar: The Last Airbender video game, it is claimed that otter penguins are also used for sledding in the Northern Water Tribe, although the Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Art of the Animated Series states that they are native to the South Pole.Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Art of the Animated Series, page 80.
== References ==
== See also ==
* Fauna in the World of Avatar
* Penguin sledding
de:Otter-Pinguin
es:Pingüino nutria
nl:Pinguin
ru:Пингвины-выдры
Category:A to Z
Category:Fauna
Category:Foods
Category:Hybridized creatures
Category:Water Tribes