Fossil Reveals Human-Sized Penguin Once Roamed New Zealand
- 6 years ago
The study of a fossil found on the South Island of New Zealand revealed that an especially enormous penguin once roamed the area.
The study of a fossil found on the South Island of New Zealand revealed that an especially enormous penguin once roamed the area.
The specimen examined is estimated to have stood about 5 ½ feet tall and weighed in at around 220 pounds.
That makes it one of the two largest penguins known to science.
Estimated to have lived between 56 million and 59 million years ago, scientists speculate that the mass extinction of numerous water-dwelling reptilian predators allowed the bird to grow to the astonishing size.
The team, which hails from Germany and New Zealand, also suggests the growth spurt didn't hold as new aquatic threats, including toothed whales, developed soon after.
In addition to being one of the largest penguin fossils ever studied, the remains are "among the oldest known."
The study of a fossil found on the South Island of New Zealand revealed that an especially enormous penguin once roamed the area.
The specimen examined is estimated to have stood about 5 ½ feet tall and weighed in at around 220 pounds.
That makes it one of the two largest penguins known to science.
Estimated to have lived between 56 million and 59 million years ago, scientists speculate that the mass extinction of numerous water-dwelling reptilian predators allowed the bird to grow to the astonishing size.
The team, which hails from Germany and New Zealand, also suggests the growth spurt didn't hold as new aquatic threats, including toothed whales, developed soon after.
In addition to being one of the largest penguin fossils ever studied, the remains are "among the oldest known."