Imagine seeing a penguin that’s five feet tall and has a very long, straight beak. Imagine a penguin so large it weighs twice as much as a the Emperor penguin, the largest species on Earth. That is, the largest species on Earth currently. If you were alive thirty-six million years ago you might have seen this giant penguin, called the Water King.
Scientists in Peru have recently uncovered the fossils of a Water King, which includes well-preserved feathers and scales. One of the interesting facts discovered is that this species had brown and gray feathers, unlike the black and white we associate with modern penguins.
The scientists have also concluded that based on the flipper structure Water Kings were powerful swimmers and their size could indicate that they were able to dive deeply.
For more on these amazing penguins, visit BBC News.