Kawhia’s giant penguin Diver. Credit Simone Giovanardi
Fossilized giant penguin discovered by New Zealand schoolchildren has been revealed as a new species in the peer review Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology by researchers at Massey University.
Penguins have a fossil record dating back to the age of the dinosaurs, and the oldest of these penguins have been discovered in Aotearoa. Fossil penguins from Zealandia (formerly Aotearoa) are known mainly in Otago and Canterbury, although important discoveries have recently been made in Taranaki and Waikato.
In 2006, a group of schoolchildren on a fossil hunting camp trip to the Junior Junior Naturalist Club (JUNATS) in Kawhia Harbor, led by the club’s fossil expert Chris Templer, discovered the bones of a giant fossil penguin.
Researchers at Massey University and the Bruce Museum (Connecticut, USA) visited the Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga or Waikato to analyze the fossils of the ancient penguin. The team used 3D scanning as part of their research and compared the fossil to digital versions of bones from around the world. The 3D scan also meant the team could produce a 3D-printed fossil replica for Hamilton Junior naturalists. The royal penguin fossil was donated by the club to the Waikato Museum in 2017.
Dr. Daniel Thomas, a tenured professor of zoology at Massey School of Natural and Computer Science, says the fossil is between 27.3 and 34.6 million years old and is from a time when much of Waikato it was under water.
“The penguin is similar to the Kairuku giant penguins first described in Otago, but have much longer legs, which researchers used to call the penguin waewaeroa – Te reo Māori for “long legs”. These longer legs would have made the penguin much taller than others Kairuku while walking on land, perhaps about 1.4 meters high, and may have influenced the speed with which you could swim or the depth with which you could dive, ”says Dr. Thomas..
“It has been a real privilege to contribute to the story of this incredible penguin. We know how important this fossil is to so many people, “he added.
“Foot diver it is emblematic for so many reasons. The fossil penguin reminds us that we share Zealandia with incredible lineages of animals that reach deep into time, and this sharing provides us with an important guardian role. The way the fossil penguin was discovered, discovering nature by children, reminds us of the importance of encouraging future generations to become kaitiaki. [guardians]”.
Mike Safey, president of the Hamilton Junior Naturalist Club, says it’s something the kids involved will remember for the rest of their lives.
“It was a strange privilege for the children of our club to have the opportunity to discover and rescue this huge fossil penguin. We always encourage young people to explore and enjoy the outdoors. There are a lot of interesting things that are just waiting to be discovered. “
Steffan Safey was there for both the discovery and rescue missions. “It’s a bit surreal to know that a discovery we made as children so many years ago contributes to today’s academic world. And it’s a new species, even! The existence of giant penguins in New Zealand is barely known, so it’s great to know that the community continues to study and learn more. Obviously I had a great day cutting the sandstone! ”.
Dr. Esther Dale, a plant ecologist who now lives in Switzerland, was also there.
“It’s exciting enough to get involved in the discovery of such a large and relatively complete fossil, let alone a new species! I’m excited to see what we can learn about the evolution of penguins and life in New Zealand. “
Alwyn Dale helped recover the fossil. “It was definitely one of those somewhat surreal things to look back on: absolute list moment for me. After joining JUNATS, there were some pretty iconic stories of amazing finds and special experiences, and the excavation of a giant penguin fossil must be up there, a true testament to all the parents and volunteers who gave their time and resources to make unique and formative memories for the club members. ”
Taly Matthews, a longtime member of the Hamilton Junior Naturalist Club, who works for the Taranaki Conservation Department, says: “Finding any fossil is quite exciting when you think about how much time has passed while this animal remained hidden, wrapped in rock. Finding a giant penguin fossil, however, is on another level. As more fossils of giant penguins are discovered, we fill more gaps in history. It’s very exciting. “
The research is detailed in an article entitled “A giant oligocene fossil penguin from the North Island of New Zealand ‘, published today in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The study describes Foot diver as a new fossil penguin species and provides a more complete picture of the diversity of giant penguins.
Reference: “A giant oligocene fossil penguin from the North Island of New Zealand” September 16, 2021, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
DOI: 10.1080 / 02724634.2021.1953047
The research was led by PhD student Simone Giovanardi, with Dr. Daniel Ksepka, Bruce Museum, and Dr. Daniel Thomas, of Massey University.