Most primitive Paraptenodytes and the origin of penguins.

A new paper just came out redescribing the skull and skeleton of the fossil penguin, Paraptenodytes from the Miocene of South America. The investigators of this paper found that this primitive penguin should be placed outside of the living family of penguins (Spheniscidae), as a basal branch off the penguin family tree. This is despite the fact that penguins have a fossil record extending back to the Paleocene.


Bertelli, S., N. P. Giannini, D. Ksepka. 2006. Redescription and Phylogenetic Position of the Early Miocene Penguin Paraptenodytes Antarcticus from Patagonia. American Museum Novitates, Number 3525 (2006), pp. 1–36.