Giant Prehistoric Penguin

Scientists have uncovered the fossils of prehistoric penguins in Peru. Evidence from the fossils suggests that these giant penguins, called water king penguins (Inkayacu paracasensis), had reddish-brown colors on the underside of their wings. But that’s not the only unusual thing about this ancient bird–it was also about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall!

Learn more about the giant water king penguin on National Geographic News.

Get the facts on emperor penguins, the world’s largest living penguins.

Illustration courtesy Katie Browne, U.T. Austin

Comments

mega
October 17, 2010, 3:51 pm

hi this is very exciting to me they found a new peinguin
Pinky Caine
October 17, 2010, 9:11 pm

it looks different than most penguins. I think adapted its body so It can be better in it’s environment. I bet that was at that penguin lived a long time ago
climber
October 18, 2010, 1:06 pm

A HUGE beak too!
tybarrap
October 21, 2010, 12:56 pm

This is very exciting news.
kido12466
October 26, 2010, 7:45 am

How intresting…..!I think that this is very good news,I think that the body was shaped and sized for its enviroment and food and habitat,first of all i think that the brown under the wings was for when it was swimming it would float there waiting for its prey to come,the prey would think that the underbelly is wood and then when the bird saw it he would snatch the prey and swim away.
animallover123
January 5, 2011, 8:05 pm

It looks like a normal day penguin but that beak makes it sooooooooooooooo interesting and different. Cool Bird dude.
Olewka
May 20, 2011, 5:27 am

It is Big! Very interesting!
Olewka
May 20, 2011, 5:33 am

Yea cool! Pretty big!
barnowl24601
January 25, 2012, 4:27 am

Wow! a 5 foot penguin?
i am not even that big! lol

barnowl24601
Lemurgirl7
July 27, 2012, 9:25 pm

FUN!