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 Edit this 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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
  2. ^ "Eudyptes calauina joins the march". March of the Fossil Penguins. 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2023-11-25.