Partial limb skeleton of a “giant penguin” Anthropornis from the Eocene of Antarctic Peninsula
Abstract : The fossil record of the Antarctic penguins is dated to the late Paleocene of Sey− mour (Marambio) Island, but the largest sphenisciforms, genera Anthropornis and Palae− eudyptes , originate from the Eocene La Meseta Formation. Here, the most complete large−scale reconstruction of a limb...
| Published in: | Polish Polar Research |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
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Walter de Gruyter GmbH
2012
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10183-012-0017-0 https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/popore/33/3/article-p259.xml https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/popore.2012.33.issue-3/v10183-012-0017-0/v10183-012-0017-0.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract : The fossil record of the Antarctic penguins is dated to the late Paleocene of Sey− mour (Marambio) Island, but the largest sphenisciforms, genera Anthropornis and Palae− eudyptes , originate from the Eocene La Meseta Formation. Here, the most complete large−scale reconstruction of a limb skeleton (a whole wing and a partial hind leg) of a Paleogene Antarctic penguin is reported. All bones are attributable to a single individual identified as Anthropornis sp. The comparative and functional analyses of the material indi− cate that this bird was most probably well−adapted to land and sea while having a number of intriguing features. The modern−grade carpometacarpal morphology is unique among known Eocene Antarctic species and all but one more northerly taxa. |
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