Scientists from the Bruce Museum in Greenwich discovered the fossilized remains of the largest penguin: the animal weighed 154 kilograms and lived in waters off New Zealand more than 50 million years ago. Findings published Journal of Paleontology.
A nearly complete skeleton of a new species named Kumimanu Fordycei, found on the New Zealand coast along with fossils of other penguin species. Researchers estimated weight K. fordycei At 154 kilograms. This makes it the largest penguin known to date.
Previously, the largest penguin was considered Palaeeudyptes klekowskiiwho lived in Antarctica about 37 million years ago and weighed 116 kg.
According to the authors of the finding, K. fordycei they had relatively primitive fin bones, could no longer fly, but looked more like flying birds than modern penguins. Scientists also believe that large size K. fordycei indicates that giantization developed in the first penguins. The large body size likely helped the birds maintain temperature more efficiently and dive better.