Giant penguin weighing 154kg found in New Zealand

Inside beach boulders in North Otago, scientists have found the remains of a penguin believed to be the largest known member of the penguin genus.

In total, the remains of nine penguins were found, five of which belonged to the species Petradyptes stonehousei, one to the species Kumimanu biceae, and two remained unidentified.

The ninth penguin turned out to be a representative of a new species, Kumimanu fordycei. It weighed about 154 kilograms, that is, it was about three times as massive as modern emperor penguins.

Kumimanu fordycei was supposedly one of the earliest penguins that lived on the planet 59.5-55.5 million years ago. According to scientists, the remains will help to study the evolution of flightless birds.