Final answer:
The correct answer is option 3). Penguins propel themselves from the water onto land by releasing trapped air bubbles in their feathers, a method which provides a burst of speed by reducing drag.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand inquires about the mechanism by which penguins propel themselves from water onto land. Penguins utilize the release of bubbles of air trapped in their dense feathers, rather than flapping their wings quickly, inflating their lungs with air, or receiving encouragement from other penguins. This process is known as sub-antarctic bulleting where penguins trap air within their feathers while swimming. Then, when they need a burst of speed, for example, to escape predators or to launch onto land, they release these bubbles. The rapid expansion of the air bubbles helps to reduce the density of the water around their bodies, effectively reducing drag and providing a substantial boost in speed that aids them in their leap onto land.
This phenomenon is akin to the biological evolution which has led to penguins' wings, or flippers, being adapted for swimming in the water rather than flying. Flightless birds like penguins and the flightless cormorant have evolved to occupy specific niches where flying is not necessary. In penguins, their flippers are excellent for maneuvering underwater and their body design is streamlined for aquatic life, reflecting their evolutionary history and adaptation to their ecological role.