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giant penguin
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Illustration of the extinct giant penguin Icadyptes salasi standing upright with wings outstretched, shown next to a human silhouette for scale, highlighting the bird's large size.
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giant penguin

fossil bird
Also known as: Icadyptes salasi
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Illustration of the extinct giant penguin Icadyptes salasi standing upright with wings outstretched, shown next to a human silhouette for scale, highlighting the bird's large size.
Icadyptes salasi Fossil remains indicate that Icadyptes salasi, an extinct species of giant penguin, stood at an estimated height of 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) and weighed 50 to 80 kg (110 to 176 pounds). Its beak was about 20 cm (about 8 inches) long.

"Mega penguins" refers to extinct, giant penguin species that dwarfed modern penguins. The term can also be a nickname for Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, the tallest known species, which lived about 38 million years ago and may have stood 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall. The heaviest identified species is Kumimanu fordycei, weighing an estimated 148–160 kg (326–353 pounds) and living around 59 million years ago.1

These mega penguins primarily existed during the Paleogene Period (66 to 23 million years ago), with fossils found in New Zealand, Antarctica, and South America. Their large size likely aided in conserving heat in cold waters, allowing for longer dives and the pursuit of larger prey. Giant penguins became extinct about 20 million years ago, possibly due to competition from seals and toothed whales.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. What Is a Mega Penguin?
  2. penguin

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