Penguin bones from the Eocene La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula) constitute the only extensive fossil record of Antarctic Sphenisciformes. Here, we synonymize some of the recognized genera (Anthropornis with Orthopteryx, Delphinornis with Ichtyopteryx) and species (Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi with Orthopteryx gigas, Delphinornis gracilis with Ichtyopteryx gracilis). Moreover, we suggest that Antarctic species of Anthropornis and Palaeeudyptes, so-called giant penguins, may in fact comprise only one species each instead of two, based on evidence of well-marked sexual dimorphism. We also present new estimates of body mass based on femora testifying to the impressive scope of interspecific body-size variation in Eocene Antarctic penguins.
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1 June 2011
Aspects of Diversity in Early Antarctic Penguins
Piotr Jadwiszczak,
Thomas Mörs
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
Vol. 56 • No. 2
June 2011
Vol. 56 • No. 2
June 2011
Antarctic Peninsula
Aves
body mass
Eocene
sexual dimorphism
Sphenisciformes
systematics