Eudyptes calauina
Eudyptes calauina is an extinct species of crested penguin that lived during the Late Pliocene.[1] It inhabited what is now central Chile.
| †Eudyptes calauina Temporal range: Pliocene | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Sphenisciformes |
| Family: | Spheniscidae |
| Genus: | Eudyptes |
| Species: | †E. calauina |
| Binomial name | |
| †Eudyptes calauina Hoffmeister, Briceño, and Nielsen, 2014 | |
Etymology
The genus name Eudyptes derives from Ancient Greek, translating to "fine diver". The species name calauina derives from the Yaghan name for the rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome).[1]
Description
Eudyptes calauina specimens stem from the Horcon Formation in the Valparaiso Region of central Chile.[1] The extant crested penguin species do not inhabit central Chile.[1][2]
Eudyptes calauina is larger than the extant crested penguins.[1] It is also larger than Megadyptes antipodes, Spheniscus chilensis and Spheniscus humboldti.[1] It is similar in size and proportions to Nucleornis insolitus, an extinct penguin species of the Early Pliocene in South Africa.[1]
References
- Hoffmeister, Martín Chávez; Briceño, Jorge D. Carrillo; Nielsen, Sven N. (2014-03-12). "The Evolution of Seabirds in the Humboldt Current: New Clues from the Pliocene of Central Chile". PLOS ONE. 9 (3): e90043. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...990043C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090043. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3951197. PMID 24621560.
- "Eudyptes calauina joins the march". March of the Fossil Penguins. 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2023-11-25.