Penguins weren’t always the petite, tuxedo-sporting birds we know and love today. Once, giant penguins the size of humans reigned supreme.
But how did they evolve into the creatures living in Antarctica? Scientists have discovered fossils that act like the missing link for their evolution — and it all happened after the dinosaurs went extinct.
Fossils from five partial skeletons were found on the Chatham Islands near New Zealand’s South Island. The fossils were found in the remote area during excavations from 2006 to 2011. The group was led by Monash University palaeontologist Jeffrey Stilwell.
The fossils belong to the newly discovered species Kupoupou stilwelli, the oldest known penguin that’s similar in size to modern penguins. Its name is derived from the indigenous Moriori people of the Chatham Islands. Kupoupou means “diving bird” in their language, Te Re Moriori. Stilwelli is in honor of Stilwell’s discovery.
Source: Missing link found to giant penguins the size of humans that once reigned supreme
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