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Big NZ fossil penguin reconstructed | Big NZ fossil penguin reconstructed |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A large extinct penguin has been reconstructed from fossil remains discovered in New Zealand. | A large extinct penguin has been reconstructed from fossil remains discovered in New Zealand. |
Researchers used bones from two separate examples of the ancient birds, using the skeleton of a modern king penguin as a guide. | Researchers used bones from two separate examples of the ancient birds, using the skeleton of a modern king penguin as a guide. |
They show the 25 million-year-old Kairuku penguin was tall at 1.2m (4ft 2in), with an elongated beak and large flippers. | |
The team's work appears in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. | The team's work appears in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. |
The reconstruction shows that the Kairuku penguin was easily the largest of the five species that were common to New Zealand during the Oligocene time period. | The reconstruction shows that the Kairuku penguin was easily the largest of the five species that were common to New Zealand during the Oligocene time period. |
The efforts were partly inspired by the bird's unusual body shape, which is different from any other known penguin, living or extinct. | The efforts were partly inspired by the bird's unusual body shape, which is different from any other known penguin, living or extinct. |
"Kairuku was an elegant bird by penguin standards, with a slender body and long flippers, but short, thick legs and feet," said co-author Dr Dan Ksepka, from North Carolina State University, US. | "Kairuku was an elegant bird by penguin standards, with a slender body and long flippers, but short, thick legs and feet," said co-author Dr Dan Ksepka, from North Carolina State University, US. |
"If we had done a reconstruction by extrapolating from the length of its flippers, it would have stood over 6ft tall. In reality, Kairuku was around 4ft 2in tall or so." | |
Twenty-five million years ago, New Zealand was an attractive location for penguins because it offered both food and safety. | Twenty-five million years ago, New Zealand was an attractive location for penguins because it offered both food and safety. |
Most of the present day country was underwater at that time, leaving isolated, rocky land masses that protected the penguins from potential predators and provided them with a plentiful food supply." | Most of the present day country was underwater at that time, leaving isolated, rocky land masses that protected the penguins from potential predators and provided them with a plentiful food supply." |
The name Kairuku comes from a Maori word that loosely translates to "diver who returns with food". | The name Kairuku comes from a Maori word that loosely translates to "diver who returns with food". |
Bigger penguins have been discovered: at least two extinct species discovered in Peru stood about 5ft (1.5m) tall. |
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