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Story: Penguins

Extinct penguin reconstruction

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Extinct penguin reconstruction

This artist’s reconstruction of two early Palaeeudyptes-like penguins shows tall birds with longer bills than modern penguins. It is based on fossils from 26 to 28 million years ago. Palaeeudyptes means ‘ancient winged diver’. In the centre is a dolphin from the same period.

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Geology Museum, University of Otago

by Chris Gaskin

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How to cite this page

Lloyd Spencer Davis, Penguins – The penguin history of New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6397/extinct-penguin-reconstruction (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Lloyd Spencer Davis, published 2 March 2009.