Prodigious Penguins Populated Peru

Paleontologists Say 5-Foot Penguins Populated Equatorial Regions Of Earth 40 Million Years Ago

(AP)  Giant penguins as tall as 5 feet roamed what is now Peru more than 40 million years ago, much earlier than scientists thought the flightless birds had spread to warmer climes.

Known mostly for their presence in Antarctica, penguins today live in many islands in the Southern Hemisphere, some even near the equator.

But scientists thought they hadn't reached warm areas until about 10 million years ago.

Now, researchers report in this week's online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that they have found remains of two types of penguin in Peru that date to 40 million years ago.

One of them was a 5-foot giant with a long sharp beak.

Paleontologist Julia Clarke, assistant professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at North Carolina State University, said she was surprised at the new find.

"This is the same age as the earliest penguins from South America. The only other record from the continent of that age is from the southernmost tip of the continent," she said. "The new finds indicate they reached equatorial regions much earlier than anyone previously thought."

The big bird is larger than any penguin known today and the third largest known to have ever lived, she added.

It is particularly unusual for such a large penguin to have been living in a warm climate, she noted. "In most cases, the larger individuals of a species or among related species are correlated with colder climes and higher latitudes."

The beak of the large penguin — Icadyptes salasi — "looks remarkably spearlike," she said. But the researchers don't know its exact feeding style.

The second new species — Perudyptes devriesi — was approximately the same size as a living King Penguin — 2 ½ to 3 feet tall — and represents a very early part of penguin evolutionary history, the researchers said.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation Office of International Science and Engineering and the National Geographic Society.

[rheola-2009]

Singinrick

"Witch doctors and spiritual healers are common in rural parts of Malaysia where superstitious beliefs have long been entrenched."

I did not realise that you are a Malaysian.

[infidel_us]

Say this 10x - real fast:
Prodigious Penguins Populated Peru

:)

[octavianfdlr]

The article states:

It is particularly unusual for such a large penguin to have been living in a warm climate, she noted. "In most cases, the larger individuals of a species or among related species are correlated with colder climes and higher latitudes."

Is this more evidence of global warming? Is this evidence of global warming on a much greater scale than has been observed in the last few decades? Is this evidence of global warming that had nothing to do with anthropogenically produced greenhouse emissions?

Does this discovery cast any doubt on the claim that only anthropogenically produced greenhouse gases could produce the global warming we have seen in the last few decades?

Funny that the article did not even address this possibility...

[octavianfdlr]

Singinrick, we get our word "animal" from the Latin word "anima," meaning "soul," as in:

"Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera anima omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu."

Thank you for informing us that it is "the devil's lie" that any human has anything to do with a soul.

Have you considered tying a huge stone to your neck, and throwing yourself into the sea?

[ki8911]

Let singinrick enjoy his fantasy. It's not worth the time or effort to try to convince this person that there are other realities outside of his own. I've met a lot of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others who didn't feel the need to convert me to their faith because they were truly secure in it. Me, I'm not into the god thing but I don't feel it's my place to "correct them from the error of their ways".
Now what's cool for me is that fascinating fossils are constantly being found, illustrating of the profound diversity of life that has existed on this earth. It's humbling to try to envision the enormous spans of time, the animals & plant life that have come & gone, the earth itself is still changing. We humans who have only inhabited this sphere for a micro second of time in comparison to just merely the age of the earth, that is truly awe inspiring. May we humans survive long enough, mature enough, to appreciate it.

[lfitts1]

Anyway, it is uproariously funny when people imply that America's woes would be solved if we turned to God. In case you hadn't noticed, at least 90% of Americans do espouse religious belief, and we have murders, drug abuse, child abuse, constant war and corrupt politicians in record numbers. Doesn't look like the whole "God" thing is really working all that well. How about we try the hard evidence, personal responsibility approach for a while instead?
Posted by bobgee_1999

To coin a phrase--AMEN !!!

More people have been killed on the name of god than for any other reason--religious people talk about the golden rule--but many of them mean: do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.

The idiot in chief wants us to teach 'intelligent design' and then wonders why students can't think in the scientific method.

Why do the religious feel they need to shove their religion down my throay?? Why are their beliefs better or more moral than mine?? Believe what you wish--try to be a good moral person and leave god out of the conversation. Why do we decry the moslem extremists yet tolerate the christian taliban in our country??

[bobgee_1999]

"The religion which fears science dishonors God" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am an atheist, and understand the theory of evolution to be true, but I still don't see what one has to do with the other. I was an atheist before I'd even heard of evolution.

Anyway, it is uproariously funny when people imply that America's woes would be solved if we turned to God. In case you hadn't noticed, at least 90% of Americans do espouse religious belief, and we have murders, drug abuse, child abuse, constant war and corrupt politicians in record numbers. Doesn't look like the whole "God" thing is really working all that well. How about we try the hard evidence, personal responsibility approach for a while instead?

[rheola-2009]

gopsux

Have a closer look old chap, I am in agreement with you, my sarcasm is aimed at those persons, who believe in fairy tales and superstition.
For example Singinrick.

No doubt Singinrick relies on Scientist's and the technology that they have made possible, of course when it suits him, however as you can see he decries it, when it proves his beliefs to be what they are, superstition and fairy tales.

Also please do not refer to me as "Honey" you may well be of that limp hand variety, but I am certainly NOT.

[rheola-2009]

I really do not know what to believe any more, we have all these scientific facts, that are contrary to what my high priest's and witchdoctors have always told me is sooooo true.

I have become such a confused person, Next I expect I have been told fairy tales, and all that btainwashing was only superstition.

Somebody please come to my rescue, and show me some solid evidence that my religious teachings have some fact.

[rheola-2009]

This story coukld not possibly be true !!!!!!!!!

All these religous persons tell us the world is less than 10,000 years old, and as Peru is in what we know of as the new world, then as it was not yet discovered in Noah's time, these creatures could not possibly have existed, even if the Scietist's [Paleontologist's] who have dated the remains got it wrong.and the fossils fit in with the biblical time span.