Fossil Novembirb: Day 12 - Peak Penguin Party
Penguins, as we all know, are the pinnacle of dinosaur evolution. And the latter part of the Paleogene period; the late Eocene and Oligocene epochs, were the pinnacle of penguin evolution. This was when penguins were at their largest, most diverse and most impressive. Does that mean this was the absolute pinnacle of dinosaur evolution? Only time will tell.
Icadyptes: A giant penguin known from the late Eocene of Peru, about 1,5 metres tall. Like many giant penguins, it had a long spear-like beak that was used to harpoon large fish.
Anthropornis: A giant penguin with a peculiar name, this giant was about the size of a human, at 1,6 metres tall and weighing 80 kilograms. it lived in the late Eocene of Antarctica.
Palaeeudyptes: The largest giant penguin and also the largest penguin ever. It could grow up to 1,8 metres tall and weigh 150 kilograms. It lived in the South polar sea during the late Eocene.
Inkayacu: A giant penguin with a difference, the coloration of this animal is known from remarkably preserved fossils from the late Eocene of Peru.
Perudyptes: While this penguin from the middle Eocene of Peru wasn't as big as its giant cousins, it was the size of a king penguin, one of the biggest penguins alive today.
Kairuku: Among of the last truly giant penguins, this 1,3 metre tall penguin lived in the waters surrounding Aotearoa (New Zealand)