Scientists at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich have uncovered fossilized remains that reveal the largest penguin ever known. The specimen, weighing about 154 kilograms, lived in waters off New Zealand more than 50 million years ago. The discovery is described in findings published in the Journal of Paleontology.
Among the fossils is a nearly complete skeleton of a new penguin species named Kumimanu fordyrcei, found along the New Zealand coastline together with bones from other penguin species. Based on the remains, researchers estimate Kumimanu fordyrcei weighed roughly 154 kilograms, establishing it as the heaviest penguin identified to date.
Before this discovery, the title of the largest penguin belonged to Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, a species that inhabited Antarctica around 37 million years ago and is thought to have weighed about 116 kilograms.
Authors of the study note that Kumimanu fordyrcei possessed relatively primitive fin bones and likely could no longer fly, though its overall form resembled flying birds more than modern penguins do. The researchers suggest that the extreme size of Kumimanu fordyrcei indicates that giantism emerged early in penguin evolution. A larger body would have aided thermal regulation in cooler waters and could have enhanced diving efficiency, contributing to the bird’s success in an ancient ocean environment. The research team emphasizes that these findings shed light on how early penguins adapted to their habitats, hinting at a complex path toward modern penguin physiology and behavior [citation: Journal of Paleontology].