Portrait of the penguin was extinct 25 million years

News from BBC magazine (UK) on February 28 said US scientists have reconstructed portraits from fossils of the discovered Kairuku penguin in New Zealand.

>>>Discover a rare penguin species in Antarctica

Extinct Kairuku penguins about 25 million years ago belong to the Oligocene, Paleogene, and New Born.

Portrait of two Kairuku penguins standing beside
a Waipatiab dolphin stranded - (Photo: Live Science)

After reconstructing the portrait of Kairuku penguin, Dr. Dan Ksepka, working at North Carolina State University (USA), said they are about 1.2m tall, long beak with a slender body and long flippers , but short, legs and feet thick.

The name 'Kairuku' in Maori - the native Maori language in New Zealand - means 'the bird that returns to the water is a source of food in the mine'.

Scientist Dan Ksepka stands next to the penguin's skeleton model
Kairuku (right) is extinct and the skeleton of the world's smallest penguin
today Eudyptula minor - also found in New Zealand - (Photo: Live Science)

25 million years ago, New Zealand was almost submerged under water - ideal conditions, safe and abundant food sources for Kairuku penguins.

According to information on mongabay.com, New Zealand and surrounding islands are now considered penguins 'hot spots' when up to 6 species live.

Unfortunately, 18 species of penguins worldwide (including 6 species in New Zealand) are threatened with extinction, mainly due to overfishing which reduces their prey.