description Archaeospheniscus lowei Overview
Archaeospheniscus lowei is an extinct penguin species and the type species of the genus Archaeospheniscus. It lived during the Late Oligocene and is known from fossil bones recovered in the Kokoamu Greensand Formation at Duntroon, Otago, New Zealand, about 27 to 28 million years ago. Estimates place it at roughly 85 to 115 centimeters tall, between the size of a modern king penguin and an emperor penguin; its name honors paleornithologist Percy Lowe.
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What is Archaeospheniscus lowei?
Archaeospheniscus lowei is an extinct penguin species and the type species of the genus Archaeospheniscus. It lived during the Late Oligocene.
Where were fossils of Archaeospheniscus lowei found?
Fossil bones were recovered from the Kokoamu Greensand Formation at Duntroon in Otago, New Zealand. The species is known from that fossil locality.
How long ago did Archaeospheniscus lowei live?
The species lived about 27 to 28 million years ago, during the Late Oligocene. That places it far earlier than living penguin species.
Why is Archaeospheniscus lowei important?
It is the type species of Archaeospheniscus, meaning it anchors the scientific definition of that genus. Its fossils also document penguin diversity in Oligocene New Zealand.
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