Otter penguin

The otter penguin is an animal used for recreation in the polar Water Tribes and is native to the South Pole.

History
After being released from the iceberg, Aang's first request was if Katara would go penguin sledding with him, to which she accepted. Later, Aang saw an otter penguin and became fascinated by the animal, immediately chasing after it. Katara found Aang attempting to catch otter penguins and, using fish to bait the penguins, managed to catch one each for the two to go sledding on.

Aang later used another otter penguin to return to the Southern Water Tribe after being banished.

Anatomy
The otter penguin is an aquatic, flightless, mammal-like bird found mainly in the South Pole. It has four flippers and is approximately as tall as a teenager. Its face is somewhat otter-like, with small black noses and whiskers. It has a short neck that is almost indistinguishable from its chest. Its feet also seem to be webbed. Its coloration is counter shaded, meaning its back, tail, flippers, and head are black, while its underbelly is white.

Behavior


Although a bit clumsy on land, it is a very talented and graceful swimmer. It seems to love sliding down the icy shelves and hills of the poles, with or without a human passenger. Its smooth, oily feathers that protect it from the icy water also make it good for sliding down ice-slopes. Using the creature as a sled is a common recreational activity in the Southern Water Tribe, and, to an extent, in the Northern Water Tribe. The animal does not seem to mind since it enjoys sliding down the ice in this manner, and the added weight allows it to slide faster than normal. The otter penguin travels in large groups when on land. Although it will flee if chased, it can easily be lured with fish. The otter penguin is carnivorous, its diet presumably consisting of mainly fish. The otter penguin has one major natural predator, the tiger seal.

Connection
The otter penguin in the Avatar World 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 two extra flippers and the otter-like face. Real world penguins are birds and thus have beaks and feathers.

Trivia

 * The otter penguin is often called a penguin, which is false.
 * In "The Boy in The Iceberg" with Avatar Extras bonus commentary, otter penguins are referred to as penguin-otters. The commentary also reveals that the whiskers on otter penguins are inspired by the mustache style called the Fu Manchu.
 * Sokka said that the yellow goop slathered on the walls of the Si Wong Rock tasted like rotten penguin meat. Considering how Aang simply referred to the otter penguins as "penguins", it can be safely assumed that Sokka was doing the same. From this it can be deduced that otter penguins are commonly hunted game in the Southern Water Tribe.