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A giant penguin plumed in earth tones

Fossil feathers of a 36-million-year-old diving bird give clues to color, evolution

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

A fossil giant penguin with feathers reveals the first glimpse of what the well-dressed diving bird was wearing before tuxedos.

BIG BIRD Fossils found in northern Peru reveal an extinct giant penguin that lived 36 million years ago, newly named Inkayacu paracasensis. In the top five of big extinct penguins, it may have weighed double what today’s emperor penguins average.