Ancient Penguins Were Giant, Colorful Beasts, New Fossils Reveal

foxnews.com ^ | September 30, 2010 | Stephanie Pappas

[ilovesarah2012]

Penguins didn't always boast tuxedo-like black-and-white markings, according to a new study. The discovery of the first ancient penguin fossil with evidence of feathers reveals the aquatic birds were once reddish-brown and gray.

The 36 million-year-old fossil represents one of the largest ancient penguins ever found. The bird would have been 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, and probably weighed twice as much as modern Emperor penguins, which average about 66 pounds (30 kilograms). Its long, grooved beak suggests that, like modern penguins, it hunted by diving for fish.

Imprints of feathers in the rock around the bones could help researchers understand how modern penguin feathers evolved, said Julia Clarke, a paleontologist at The University of Texas at Austin and a co-author of the paper.

[1010RD]

One egg will feed a village for a week. Hard to barbecue, though.

GM chickens will be that big, good and tasty.

[SuzyQue]

I don’t go for fancy cars
For diamond rings
Or movie stars
I go for penguins
Oh lord I go for penguins

Throw your money out the door
We’ll just sit around
And watch it snow
I go for penguins
Oh lord I go for penguins

Penguins are so sensitive
Penguins are so sensitive
Penguins are so sensitive
To my needs

[IYellAtMyTV]

"It's a pretty major transition to go from aerial flight to aquatic flight, to flying in a medium that's around 800 times denser than air," Clarke said, adding: "I think there will be more to the story of this penguin's feathering."

[1010RD]

Lyle Lovett...ahhhh. He’s so easy on the ears. Good one.

[SuzyQue]

You’re good.

[1010RD]

I try. (looks sheepishly humble) LOL.

Have a great one.

TenTen

[colorado tanker]

[ilovesarah2012]

Burgess Meredith was the best penguin ever.

[colorado tanker]

I agree, although to me his penguin laugh was close to a duck's quack!