Eocene penguins of Seymour Island, Antarctica: The earliest record, taxonomic problems and some evolutionary considerations

• Main Author: Piotr Jadwiszczak
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstract; Penguin bones from the La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island; Antarctic Penin−; Antarctic; Seymour; Seymour Island; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.550.2420; http://www.polish.polar.pan.pl/ppr27/ppr27-287.pdf

sula) are the only record of Eocene Antarctic Sphenisciformes. Being an abundant compo− nent of the youngest unit of the formation (Telm7), they are not so common in earlier strata. Here, I present the oldest penguin remains from the La Meseta Formation (Telm1–Telm2), often bearing close resemblance to their counterparts from younger units. Addressing the recent findings in fossil penguin systematics, I suggest there is too weak a basis for erecting new Eocene Antarctic taxa based on non−tarsometatarsal elements of penguin skeletons, and considering Oligocene species part of the studied assemblage. Finally, I conclude if the common ancestor of extant Sphenisciformes lived in the Eocene Antarctic (as suggested re− cently), penguins referred to Delphinornis seem to be prime candidates to that position.