Evidence for Biggest Penguin Ever?
Summary- a completely constructed body of the Kairuku
penguin was finally put together after 35 years, with bones collected from 1977
in New Zealand. This penguin’s name translates from Maori language into “diver
who returns with food”. The species lived during the Oligocene period in New
Zealand about 25 million years ago, when most of the land was underwater,
leaving protruding rocky landmasses that kept the penguins safe with a
plentiful food supply. Being one of the 5 types of penguins in New Zealand at
the time, reconstruction of the fossils was very difficult, also due to the
unique body shape of the penguin. It had a slender body with short, thick legs
and long flippers, averaging at about 4 feet and 2 inches tall.
Critique- I think that this is very cool and proves that
even today, we can discover something new. Using the skeleton of an existing
king penguin as a model, the largest penguin was reconstructed after 25 million
years.
Impact- New Zealand has had a history of producing fossils
that give interesting insights to the history of marine creatures. Also, the Kairuku
penguin could give other paleontologists more information about other fossils
in the area and giant penguins species.
Wow Hannahhhhh thats intresting.. I find that penguins are a cool animal and something we should keep as pets. I'd love to have a giant penguin as a pet!
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