Anthropornis

Anthropornis is a genus of extinct penguins that lived approximately 35 to 37 million years ago during the Eocene Epoch. These were giant penguins, significantly larger than modern species. One species, Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi, has been found in both Antarctica and New Zealand.12

Fossil evidence suggests that these mega penguins, including Anthropornis, were much larger than today's penguins. For instance, Icadyptes, another giant penguin from the same period, stood about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and weighed 50-80 kg (110-176 pounds), whereas the largest living penguin, the Emperor penguin, is about 1.3 meters (4 feet) tall and weighs 25-45 kg (55-100 pounds). The exact cause of their extinction around 20 million years ago is uncertain, but it may be linked to the rise of new marine competitors like seals and toothed whales.12