Tarlton's Gentoo Penguin

by Jennie Breeze

Title

Tarlton's Gentoo Penguin

Artist

Jennie Breeze

Medium

Photograph - Original Img_0858

Description

Photograph of a Gentoo penguin taken at Kelly Tarlton's in New Zealand. Penguins have been around for a long time; the oldest fossil dates back 60 to 62 million years just after the extinction of the dinosaurs. In fact, the discovery of this fossil adds credibility to the theory that birds, including these ancient penguin ancestors, began to evolve while dinosaurs were still roaming the earth, not after their demise. Like their descendants, these birds waddled, couldn't fly, and stayed close to the sea for their meals. Of the 17-19 penguin species currently living on the planet, 13 are considered vulnerable or endangered. With large bodies and feet, but short legs, waddling back-and-forth is the quickest, most energy efficient way for penguins to move. Where penguins really get moving is under the water. Penguins are the fastest, and deepest diving birds on the planet. The largest penguin to ever roam the earth, the anthropornis, lived about 35 to 47 million years ago. And, boy, were they big: measuring in at about 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, this ancient penguin lived in and around Antarctica and New Zealand.

Uploaded

April 29th, 2014

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