A new penguin cranium from Antarctica and its implications for body size diversity during the Eocene

HAIDR, NADIA; ACOSTA HOSPITALECHE, CAROLINA

NEUES JAHRBUCH FUR GEOLOGIE UND PALAONTOLOGIE-ABHANDLUNGEN

E SCHWEIZERBARTSCHE VERLAGS

Lugar: Stuttgart; Año: 2017 vol. 286 p. 229 - 233

0077-7749

Although penguins have a very abundant fossil record in Antarctica, very few cranialelements have been found so far, and in all the cases the specimens are incomplete. We describe anew cranium of a medium-sized penguin from the late Eocene Submeseta Formation in Marambio/Seymour Island, Antarctica. Its morphology allows us to establish a common cranial pattern for allknown Eocene taxa (including South American, Antarctic and probably Oceanian species), with verydifferent proportions between cranium and post-cranium from those of modern penguins. ThesePaleogene fossils exhibit a small neurocrania, extremely elongated bills, large occipital condyles, andstrong cranio-mandibular articulations.