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Little Penguin

All articles tagged with #little penguin

Ancient Fossil Unveils World's Tiniest Penguin
paleontology3 years ago

Ancient Fossil Unveils World's Tiniest Penguin

Paleontologists have discovered the fossilized remains of the oldest known extinct little penguin in New Zealand. The two skulls, belonging to an adult and a juvenile, were found in the Tangahoe Formation and were identified as a new species named Eudyptula wilsonae. The ancient penguins likely stood at around 35 centimeters tall and weighed less than a kilogram. The discovery suggests a Zealandian origin for little penguins and highlights their ability to adapt to a changing environment without significant physical changes.

"Tiny skull fossils unveil Earth's cutest extinct penguin species"
paleontology3 years ago

"Tiny skull fossils unveil Earth's cutest extinct penguin species"

Fossilized skulls of an extinct penguin species, named Wilson's little penguin (Eudyptula wilsonae), have been discovered in New Zealand. The skulls, belonging to an adult and a juvenile, closely resemble those of the living little penguins, which are the smallest penguin species today. The findings suggest that the genus originated in New Zealand. The discovery provides insights into the evolutionary resilience of the little penguin lineage and helps fill in gaps in the country's ecosystem history. Little penguins are currently listed as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List, but some populations have faced challenges due to climate change. The same research team also recently discovered the largest penguin species to have ever existed.