Kumimanu
Kumimanu | |
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Life restoration of Kumimanu biceae | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Sphenisciformes Mayr, Scofield, De Pietri & Tennyson, 2017 |
Genus: | †Kumimanu |
Type species | |
† Kumimanu biceae Mayr, Scofield, De Pietri & Tennyson, 2017
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Species | |
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Kumimanu is an
General information
The order
Kumimanu fordycei is among the heaviest known living or extinct penguin species, with an estimated weight of 148–159.7 kg.[2] The species name honours palaeontologist Ewan Fordyce.[3]
Discovery and analysis
The fossils were found by a group of researchers from New Zealand in Otago, on the South Island of New Zealand. The fossils are from the Paleocene Waipara Greensand formation. The fossils were studied by a New Zealand and German team, led by Gerald Mayr of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum. He was the lead author of an article on the subject published online in December 2017.[1]
Kumimanu fordycei is named from a large specimen from the late Palaeocene Moeraki Formation, dating to 55.5-59.5 million years ago.[2] It was found by palaeontologist Alan Tennyson in 2017.[4]
Ecology and behavior
Kumimanu biceae lived in New Zealand, which was subtropical during much of the Paleocene era. There were many organisms in these waters including sea turtles and various fishes. K. biceae were likely similar to modern-day penguins in the way they lived. However, these “monster birds” were likely able to consume larger prey due to their size.
See also
References
- ^ PMID 29233963.
- ^ S2CID 256709376.
- ^ Publisher, LiveNews. "Paleontology powerhouse honoured by former students | LiveNews.co.nz". Live News. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Tamisiea, Jack (8 February 2023). "The Biggest Penguin That Ever Existed Was a 'Monster Bird'". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- Jadwiszczak, Piotr, et al. “Redescription Of Crossvallia Unienwillia: The Only Paleocene Antarctic Penguin.” Ameghiniana, vol. 50, no. 6, 2013, pp. 545–553., doi:10.5710/amgh.09.10.2013.1058"
- "Ancient Mega-Penguin Reached Human Height"[full citation needed]
- Malcolm Ritter: "Ancient penguin was as big as a (human) Pittsburgh Penguin", retrieved 15 December 2017. (Note: The title refers to the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team).