A fossil was recently discovered of a type of penguin that was twice as big as an Emperor penguin.
This fossil was discovered in Peru and has been called the Water King. Along with being 5 feet tall, twice the size of the largest living penguin, this one has a mix of reddish-brown and gray feathers.
Although some may might think that the color of this ancient penguin is irrelevant, however it happens to give insight into how penguins developed. As we look at penguins development, it turns out the the structure of the Water King’s feathers were basically identical to those of modern penguins.
Going back to the feather colors, they are created by melanosomes, which can make many different colors depending on their size, shape, and how they’re put together. The library of melanosomes made by researchers was what enabled them to figure out the Water King├óΓé¼Γäós color.
Researcher Jakob Vinther explained the importance of the discovery,
“Insights into the color of extinct organisms can reveal clues to their ecology and behavior. But most of all, I think it is simply just cool to get a look at the color of a remarkable extinct organism, such as a giant fossil penguin.”
What an amazing discovery!!
[Image via AP Images.]
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