Found an ancient penguin as large as a human

Gerald Mayr at Senckenberg Research Institute and Frankfurt Museum of Natural History, Germany and colleagues analyzed the fossil skeleton of a species (Kumimanu biceae) that was discovered at Moeraki Formation in Otago, New Zealand.

The team estimates, at a height of 1.77m and weighs more than 100kg, this is the world's largest penguin species and lived about 55-60 million years ago. Currently, (Aptenodytes forsteri) holds the record for the largest living penguin, only 1.2m high in adulthood.

Announcing 'The Paleocene penguin from New Zealand proves the diverse origin of the giant nature in the Sphenisciformes fossil' (A Paleocene penguin from New Zealand substantiates multiple origins of gigantism in fossil Sphenisciformes) their export version on Nature Communications magazine on 12/12.

The largest penguin species in the world and lived about 55-60 million years ago.

The fossil skeleton of K. biceae was found to be too large for penguins by two researchers Alan Tennyson and Paul Scofield in 2004. So at first it was assumed that this skeleton was originally a turtle. After lying on the shelf for more than 10 years, the fossil skeleton was finally re-examined and determined to belong to a penguin species. Gerald Mayr said that the behavior of K. biceae ' behavior is similar to modern penguins'.

Ancient penguins are capable of developing huge body sizes, far beyond the largest modern penguins. By comparison, emperor penguins - the tallest and heaviest species living on Earth - can only reach a height of about 1.22 meters and a weight of 45kg in adulthood.

Instead of the usual white-black coat, K. biceae is brown and has a longer beak than modern penguins.

Penguins evolved from flying birds tens of millions of years ago. They lose their ability to fly and instead swim. After living on the ground, some penguins become larger. They grow from the original height of about 80cm to double.

Published by Gerald Mayr and colleagues, some penguin species became 'giants' soon after the first evolution and changed from flying to diving. At the time of K. biceae, they may have lived in a warm subtropical environment along with many seabirds, turtles and other sharks.

Obtaining information about K. biceae has contributed to a new understanding of penguin evolution. However, the cause of K. biceae's extinction is still a mystery. Most likely, they have to compete with mammals for food or become prey to other predators.