A team of paleontologists reports fossilized remains from the oldest known extinct penguin. The study, published in a respected journal, describes where the fossils were unearthed and how this species managed to fit into the lineage of today’s little penguins.
The two preserved skulls were discovered by the researchers in New Zealand’s North Island, within the Tangahoe Formation in the South Taranaki region. The specimens confirm that both skulls belong to the same ancient species and mark a first for this group of birds.
The scientists named the new species Eudyptula wilsonae, honoring ornithologist Kerry-Jayne Wilson, a devoted conservationist and seabird researcher who co-founded an NGO dedicated to protecting coastal habitats on New Zealand’s west coast.
Above, one of the fossils found. Journal of Paleontology.
One skull is from an adult and the other from a juvenile. Both are in good condition, enabling comparisons with the modern little penguin, known locally as kororā, which remains the smallest penguin species alive today.
they were small
Researchers acknowledge it is challenging to gauge the true size of these ancient birds. By comparing them with their modern relatives, they estimate a height of about 35 centimeters and a weight approaching one kilogram.
Today, several little penguin species inhabit Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. The lineage’s full history remains only partly understood, and it is not certain whether the newly found species is a direct ancestor of current little penguins. Yet given the similarities, the team believes a direct link is plausible.
The finding emphasizes how birds can adapt to changing environments without drastic morphological shifts. The coastal world around them has shifted dramatically over time, and modern little penguins now occupy a wider range than any other member of their group.
Comparative size across penguin species is often used to illustrate how these birds evolved. The newly identified species appears to have existed until roughly three million years ago, with remnants surviving into the Neogene period. The researchers suggest this points to a Zealand-origin for little penguins in general.
New Zealand is also home to some of the largest penguin species ever known, with some individuals rivaling human height in size.
Earlier this year, paleontologists described two other giant penguin species. The largest, Kumimanu fordycei, surpassed prior giants with an estimated mass around 154 kilograms, while Kumimanu biceae is thought to weigh about 100 kilograms.
Reference work: DOI: 10.1017/jpa.2023.30. The study offers a window into the long and sometimes surprising history of penguins in southern seas.
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