Penguins live exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. The greatest concentrations are found on the coasts of Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands, with 5 species living in Antarctica and 4 species on sub-Antarctic islands
. They inhabit a variety of climates, from the icy Antarctic regions to temperate and even tropical areas such as the Galápagos Islands, where the Galápagos penguin lives near the equator
. Penguins are found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere, including South America (Chile, Argentina, Peru), Africa (South Africa), Australia, New Zealand, and various islands such as the Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha
. They generally live on islands and remote continental regions free from land predators, which suits their flightlessness
. The reason penguins do not live in the Northern Hemisphere or the Arctic is due to their inability to fly, limiting migration, and the presence of land predators like foxes, wolves, and polar bears in the Arctic. Additionally, they depend on nutrient-rich waters for food, which are more prevalent in the Southern Hemisphere's cold currents and upwellings
. In summary, penguins live primarily on and around Antarctica, sub-Antarctic islands, southern coasts of continents in the Southern Hemisphere, and a few tropical islands near the equator like the Galápagos Islands
