57-million-year-old giant penguin fossil discovered in New Zealand sheds light on ancient marine life |

Fossils discovered in southern New Zealand have dropped at light an enormous prehistoric penguin species not like any dwelling at the moment. In a complete evaluation by University of Cambridge researchers, scientists recognized Kumimanu fordycei which is a giant penguin that lived alongside the shoreline through the Paleocene epoch round 57 million years in the past. Weighing roughly 350 kilos which is the same as 154 kilograms, this monumental chook far surpassed trendy emperor penguins in dimension.Published in the Journal of Paleontology and backed by Cambridge University and New Zealand’s Te Papa Museum, the analysis sheds new light on penguin evolution, suggesting the existence of a long-forgotten age when giant and deep-diving seabirds thrived.

57-million-year-old giant penguin fossil unearthed in New Zealand

The fossilized stays of Kumimanu fordycei have been discovered embedded in seashore boulders alongside the North Otago coast of New Zealand, courting to between 59.5 and 55.5 million years in the past, shortly after the mass extinction that worn out non-avian dinosaurs. An worldwide analysis crew together with paleontologist Alan Tennyson and Dr. Daniel Field from the University of Cambridge carried out the excavation and evaluation. Using laser scanning know-how, they created digital fashions of the bones to match this ancient species with trendy penguins and different water birds.

Giant penguins emerged before scientists predicted

This discovering rewrites the timeline for when penguins started evolving into giants. Kumimanu fordycei is not simply the largest penguin ever discovered however it’s additionally one of many earliest, courting to only 5 to 10 million years after the primary penguins appeared. This means that penguins started creating massive physique sizes far earlier in their evolutionary historical past than scientists as soon as thought.In addition to Kumimanu, the researchers additionally recognized one other new species, Petradyptes stonehousei, which weighed round 50 kilograms which continues to be a lot heavier than any trendy penguin. The proven fact that two such huge species lived aspect by aspect in the identical area highlights the early range and ecological success of penguins. It additionally signifies that these ancient birds weren’t uncommon evolutionary outliers however highly effective and outstanding gamers in their marine ecosystems.

The advantages behind turning into giant penguins

The monumental dimension of Kumimanu in all probability supplied a number of evolutionary advantages. Larger penguins have been in a position to dive deeper and stay submerged longer which allowed them to entry prey that smaller penguins couldn’t attain. They have been seemingly able to looking greater fish and squid, probably filling a predatory area of interest much like that of small marine mammals.From a thermoregulation standpoint, an even bigger physique helped retain warmth extra successfully, an necessary benefit in the regularly cooling subtropical to temperate waters of the early Paleocene. The title Kumimanu, which suggests “monster bird” in Māori, describes this spectacular creature that should have been a placing presence alongside New Zealand’s ancient shorelines.Despite their talent in the water, these early penguins nonetheless exhibited options inherited from their flying ancestors. Their flipper bones have been narrower with muscle attachments much like these of birds able to flight, indicating a transitional evolutionary stage. Over time, pure choice would form their limbs for extra environment friendly swimming, ultimately resulting in the streamlined, torpedo-shaped our bodies seen in at the moment’s penguins.

Why the huge penguins vanished

Giant penguins like Kumimanu thrived for tens of hundreds of thousands of years all through New Zealand, Antarctica and elements of South America. However, by about 20 million years in the past, they disappeared from the fossil report. While the precise causes stay unsure, rising proof means that competitors with marine mammals performed a key function.During this era, seals and toothed whales started spreading throughout the Southern Hemisphere, competing with penguins for meals and breeding websites. Seals, in specific, might have preyed on penguin chicks or displaced grownup penguins at necessary nesting grounds. In distinction, smaller, extra agile penguin species managed to outlive and adapt, ultimately evolving into the 18 penguin species we see at the moment.Also learn: Can science revive useless rhinos? The reply might shock you