Ancient skeleton of a giant penguin was discovered in Antarctica – Century – Daily Newspaper

Posted 10/08/2014 2:04. Edited 10.08.2014 02:07

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Now the largest penguin in Antarctica Emperor penguin is considered. The maximum growth of this penguin is 1 meter 36 centimeters, and the weight is 46 kilograms.

Ancient bones of large animals that belong to the class of “The Birds”, archaeologists have found in the past. Remains superior to the modern representatives of this species in its size. Thus, the growth of the skeleton of these birds was 150 centimeters.

A team of scientists from Argentina sent an expedition to the island of Seymour. As a result of research carried out in this area, the expedition found that more than 40 million years ago in the world lived a particularly large specimens of birds.

The scientists gave the name of his discovery Palaeeudyptes klekowskii. The researchers found that the growth of individuals found almost reached 2 meters. Body weight of these animals was equal to 115 kilograms.

These figures are record for Antarctica. Describing his discovery, scientists from Argentina expressed genuine surprise on how big were ancient birds: “About 40 million years ago our planet went penguins, which is suitable word colossi. Standing they rose by two meters. ”

The study’s author Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche claims that the remains found were a sensation in the scientific world: “We managed to find at the beginning of this year, the well-preserved remains of a giant penguin, unique world science did not know.”

Earlier in Antarctica have been found remains of a huge penguin that had developed muscles and could move around in the water. Animal’s age is 34 million years old.

It is worth noting that the giant penguins lived in New Zealand. Several years ago, scientists reported the discovery of the remains of a penguin, weighing up to 60 pounds.

Some experts argue that the remains of penguins resemble a skeleton of modern birds, but the old bird had a more slender and plastic bodies, moreover, they had long beaks.

The scientists noted that the diet of ancient penguins dominated by squid and fish.

Birds breeding on the coast of New Zealand, and sometimes they have been victims of the attack ancient sharks.