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Giant Penguin Fossils Found in Peruvian Desert

Spearfishing birds waddled the earth 36 million years ago

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 26, 2007 4:54 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Penguins haven't always lived on ice, scientists have concluded after unearthing fossils of giant penguins in Peru's Atacama desert. The penguins, nearly human-sized at 4.5 feet tall, had extraordinarily long beaks apparently used for spearfishing, and waddled the earth some 36 million years ago, the National Geographic News reports.

A second new species of penguin, dating 42 million years ago, has also been discovered in the same area, standing about 3 feet tall—the size of modern-day king penguins, the second-largest surviving breed. While the discoveries challenge conventional wisdom about penguins' climate adaptability, scientists cautioned that modern birds remain extremely vulnerable to global warming.

A Gentoo penguin, left, brings a rock to his nesting mate as the battle of rocks begins at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Wednesday, April 11, 2007. The week long battle begins when marine mammal trainers deposit dozens of small nesting rocks in the exhibit for the Gentoo and Rockhopper...
A Gentoo penguin, left, brings a rock to his nesting mate as the "battle of rocks" begins at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Wednesday, April 11, 2007. The week long "battle" begins when marine mammal...   (Associated Press)
A vet examines a penguin's chest in Moscow's Zoo.
A vet examines a penguin's chest in Moscow's Zoo.   (Getty Images (by Event))
Monarch penguins stand next to a skua at Volunteer Point beach.
Monarch penguins stand next to a skua at Volunteer Point beach.   (Getty Images (by Event))
This undated handout photo provided by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows two fossils recently discovered in Peru reveal that early penguins responded differently to natural climate change than scientists would have predicted. The smaller of the two, Perudyptes devriesi, was comparable in size to the...
This undated handout photo provided by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows two fossils recently discovered in Peru reveal that early penguins responded differently to natural...   (Associated Press)
A 62-day-old baby Little Blue penguin, left, is approached by an adult penguin after being released at the New England Aquarium in Boston Wednesday, June 6, 2007. The penguin was released into the penguin exhibit after being hatched in a holding area at the Aquarium. Little blue penguins are native...
A 62-day-old baby Little Blue penguin, left, is approached by an adult penguin after being released at the New England Aquarium in Boston Wednesday, June 6, 2007. The penguin was released into the penguin...   (Associated Press)
A Gentoo penguin takes a swim in the penguin exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A Gentoo penguin takes a swim in the penguin exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)   (Associated Press)
This photo provided by SeaWorld San Diego shows macaroni penguins waddling up a ramp to their refurbished Penguin Encounter habitat at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, Wednesday, May 2, 2007. The new Penguin Encounter boasts a complete face lift, with additional rockwork and ice, modified lighting and an entirely...
This photo provided by SeaWorld San Diego shows macaroni penguins waddling up a ramp to their refurbished Penguin Encounter habitat at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, Wednesday, May 2, 2007. The new...   (Associated Press)
A Gentoo penguin, center, defends his mate, top, and battles another Gentoo, bottom, for nesting rocks as the battle of rocks begins at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Wednesday, April 11, 2007. The week long battle begins when marine mammal trainers deposit dozens of small nesting rocks in the exhibit...
A Gentoo penguin, center, defends his mate, top, and battles another Gentoo, bottom, for nesting rocks as the "battle of rocks" begins at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Wednesday, April 11, 2007. The...   (Associated Press)
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global warming • science • birds • Peru • paleontology • fossil • penguin • dinosaur • Atacama • species • animal

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