New sphenisciform fossil further resolves bauplan of extinct giant penguins
(PHYSorg.com Archaeology & Fossils)

Penguins are descendants of seabirds that lost the ability to fly more than 60 million years ago in exchange for chasing the abundant food available in the ocean. New Zealand is a key area for understanding the diversity of the extinct penguins and has even revealed the existence of `giant` penguin species (larger than living penguins). A new study describing a remarkably complete giant penguin skeleton from the Oligocene, Kawhia Harbour in the North Island of New Zealand was presented by Simone Giovanardi, Massey University Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, at this year`s annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology held this year in Brisbane, Australia.