†K. biceae Mayr, Scofield, De Pietri & Tennyson, 2017
†K. fordycei Ksepka et al., 2023
Kumimanu is an extinctgenus of giant penguin, which lived around 56 to 60 million years ago. The type species is K. biceae, which arose after the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.[1]Fossils were found in New Zealand, and the discovery was announced in December 2017.[1] A second species, Kumimanu fordycei, was named in February 2023.[2]
General information
The order Sphenisciformes refers to all living and extinct penguin species. In 2017 an article on one of the largest and oldest species of the order herewith discovered was published. It was discovered at Hampden Beach in the Otago region of New Zealand. This organism is named Kumimanu biceae, of which the genus name translates from Māori as "monster bird," while the specific name honours the nickname of the mother of one of the authors. Total length from the tip of the beak to tail is estimated at 177 centimeters (5.81 ft), and body mass at 101 kg (222 lbs). The genus Kumimanu contains some of the largest penguins specimens known, surpassed only by Palaeeudyptes, which reached a total length of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and a body mass of 116 kg (256 lbs).[3] This is a particularly significant discovery because the fossil is fifty-five million years old — older than all other previously found remains of penguins which reached 'giant' sizes. Therefore, it allows scientists to better understand the evolution of penguins.[1]
Kumimanu fordycei is among the heaviest known living or extinct penguin species, with an estimated weight of 148–159.7 kg.[2] The species name honours palaeontologist Ewan Fordyce.[4]
Discovery and analysis
The fossils were found by a group of researchers from New Zealand in Otago, on the South Island of New Zealand. The fossils are from the Paleocene Waipara Greensand formation. The fossils were studied by a New Zealand and German team, led by Gerald Mayr of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum. He was the lead author of an article on the subject published online in December 2017.[1]
Kumimanu fordycei is named from a large specimen from the late Palaeocene Moeraki Formation, dating to 55.5–59.5 million years ago.[2] It was found by palaeontologist Alan Tennyson in 2017.[5]
Ecology and behavior
Kumimanu biceae lived in New Zealand, which was subtropical during much of the Paleocene era. There were many organisms in these waters including sea turtles and various fishes. K. biceae were likely similar to modern-day penguins in the way they lived. However, these “monster birds” were likely able to consume larger prey due to their size.
Jadwiszczak, Piotr, et al. “Redescription Of Crossvallia Unienwillia: The Only Paleocene Antarctic Penguin.” Ameghiniana, vol. 50, no. 6, 2013, pp. 545–553., doi:10.5710/amgh.09.10.2013.1058"
