First fossilized skin of a giant penguin from the Eocene of Antarctica

An articulated wing belonging to Palaeeudyptes gunnari containing mineralized skin was found in Lutetian (middle Eocene) sediments from Seymour Island, Antarctica. It shows the connective tissues, morphology and density of the feather follicles, and a groove pattern left by the feather calami restin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lethaia
Main Authors: Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia, de Los Reyes, Leonardo Martín, Santillana, Sergio, Reguero, Marcelo Alfredo
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Inc
Subjects:
LUTETIAN
MINERALIZED INTEGUMENT
PALAEEUDYPTES GUNNARI
PALAEOGENE
SEYMOUR ISLAND
SUBMESETA FORMATION
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Argentino
Argentina
Seymour
Seymour Island
Alicia
Acosta
Antarc*
Antarctica
Dirección Nacional del Antártico
Instituto Antártico Argentino
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/130635
Description
Summary:An articulated wing belonging to Palaeeudyptes gunnari containing mineralized skin was found in Lutetian (middle Eocene) sediments from Seymour Island, Antarctica. It shows the connective tissues, morphology and density of the feather follicles, and a groove pattern left by the feather calami resting on the skin. Analysis of the preserved surfaces indicates a composition of calcium phosphate. This is the most complete and only articulated wing described for this species and represents the first record of a neornithine bird preserving three-dimensional integument. Plumage density of the wing MLP 14-I-10-22, estimated by counting the follicles under a stereoscopic microscope, is lower than that of the modern Emperor penguin. Fil: Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina Ileana Alicia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina Fil: de Los Reyes, Leonardo Martín. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina Fil: Santillana, Sergio. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina Fil: Reguero, Marcelo Alfredo. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina

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