Ancient giant penguin unearthed in Peru
The fossil of a giant penguin that lived 36 million years ago has been discovered in Peru.
Scientists say the find shows that key features of the plumage were present quite early on in penguin evolution.
The team told Science magazine that the animal's feathers were brown and grey, distinct from the black "tuxedo" look of modern penguins.
It was about 1.5m (5ft) tall and nearly twice as heavy as an Emperor Penguin, the largest living species.
The bird, named Inkayacu paracasensis, or Water King, waddled the Earth during the late Eocene period.
It had a long, straight beak, much longer than that of its modern relatives.
'Pedro'
The fossil was found in Reserva Nacional de Paracas in Peru. The scientists nicknamed the penguin "Pedro" - after a scaly character in a Colombian TV series....
Read entire article at BBC News
Scientists say the find shows that key features of the plumage were present quite early on in penguin evolution.
The team told Science magazine that the animal's feathers were brown and grey, distinct from the black "tuxedo" look of modern penguins.
It was about 1.5m (5ft) tall and nearly twice as heavy as an Emperor Penguin, the largest living species.
The bird, named Inkayacu paracasensis, or Water King, waddled the Earth during the late Eocene period.
It had a long, straight beak, much longer than that of its modern relatives.
'Pedro'
The fossil was found in Reserva Nacional de Paracas in Peru. The scientists nicknamed the penguin "Pedro" - after a scaly character in a Colombian TV series....