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Title: Largest-known fossil penguin provides insight into the early evolution of sphenisciform body size and flipper anatomy
Abstract Recent fossil discoveries from New Zealand have revealed a remarkably diverse assemblage of Paleocene stem group penguins. Here, we add to this growing record by describing nine new penguin specimens from the late Paleocene (upper Teurian local stage; 55.5–59.5 Ma) Moeraki Formation of the South Island, New Zealand. The largest specimen is assigned to a new species,Kumimanu fordycein. sp., which may have been the largest penguin ever to have lived. Allometric regressions based on humerus length and humerus proximal width of extant penguins yield mean estimates of a live body mass in the range of 148.0 kg (95% CI: 132.5 kg–165.3 kg) and 159.7 kg (95% CI: 142.6 kg–178.8 kg), respectively, forKumimanu fordycei. A second new species,Petradyptes stonehousein. gen. n. sp., is represented by five specimens and was slightly larger than the extant emperor penguinAptenodytes forsteri. Two small humeri represent an additional smaller unnamed penguin species. Parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses recoverKumimanuandPetradyptescrownward of the early Paleocene mainland NZ taxaWaimanuandMuriwaimanu, but stemward of the Chatham Island taxonKupoupou. These analyses differ, however, in the placement of these two taxa relative toSequiwaimanu,Crossvallia, andKaiika. The massive size and placement ofKumimanu fordyceiclose to the root of the penguin tree provide additional support for a scenario in which penguins reached the upper limit of sphenisciform body size very early in their evolutionary history, while still retaining numerous plesiomorphic features of the flipper. UUID:https://zoobank.org/15b1d5b2-a5a0-4aa5-ba0a-8ef3b8461730  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1759909
PAR ID:
10473020
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Cambridge University Press
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Paleontology
Volume:
97
Issue:
2
ISSN:
0022-3360
Page Range / eLocation ID:
434 to 453
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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