Penguin cranial remains from the Eocene La Meseta Formation, Isla Marambio (Seymour Island), Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract Widely accepted ideas about trophic preferences of early penguins suggest that all Eocene sphenisciforms were piscivorous. However, recent findings from the La Meseta Formation (Eocene) of Antarctica, support the presence of at least two different morphotypes that may have evolved as a nich...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Hospitaleche, Carolina Acosta, Haidr, Nadia
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2011
Subjects:
Geology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Oceanography
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Seymour
Seymour Island
Marambio
isla Marambio
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Antarctica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102011000216
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102011000216
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Summary:Abstract Widely accepted ideas about trophic preferences of early penguins suggest that all Eocene sphenisciforms were piscivorous. However, recent findings from the La Meseta Formation (Eocene) of Antarctica, support the presence of at least two different morphotypes that may have evolved as a niche partitioning strategy, which is consistent with the high diversity recorded. The first of them corresponds to a medium–large sized penguin, resembling the Neogene species in configuration. Another morphotype is represented by extremely large penguins with very long and slender bills, clearly linked to fish catching habits.

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