Pengator

The Pengator is a bird-like creature, appearing as a hybrid of alligator and penguin, found in the cold regions of Hyrule, such as the Ice Palace in A Link to the Past, as well as areas of Frozen Hyrule in Four Swords Adventures and set to appear on A Link Between Worlds. Usually residing in the freezing catacombs of the Ice Palace dungeon, they keep their domain on sheets of ice, which aids their assaults and causes difficulty for their prey. They then lunge at their quarry with razor sharp alligator-like fangs from their penguin-like bill at very high speeds, sliding across the ice on their stomachs.

Pengators usually appear in large numbers, attempting to overwhelm Link if possible. He must dodge the attacks of the Pengators and then strike them with his sword several times, killing the beasts. This however is probably the least efficient way to dispose of them; instead, Link may wait for them to line up and and come at him then use the Hookshot, of which they have a particular weakness, to kill them instantly. The Fire Rod is also effective, particularly in Four Swords Adventures where it will also destroy them in one hit, and the Bombos is useful against large packs. Although Pengators do have wings, they cannot use them to fly, and while they appear on frozen lakes, no signs of them swimming like penguins has been witnessed.

Trivia

 * Pengators have some similarities to the mythical Kappa of Japanese folklore, particularly their bald heads surrounded by tufts of white hair-like feathers, their beaks and their seemingly amphibious nature.