The fossilized bones of a human-sized penguin known as Crossvallia waipernsis have been discovered in New Zealand, Waipara Greensand. Found by amateur palaeontologist Leigh Love last year at the fossil site, Canterbury Museum released a 3D model indicating just how tall the extinct species would stand. This isn't the first time a penguin species has been discovered at the same site, as five other species have been unearthed so far.
It is believed that the species lived somewhere around 56 million to 66 million years ago. Scientists have said that the penguins weighed roughly 80kg and stood at 1.6m tall, making it one of the biggest penguin species discovered to date. Dr. Mayr of the Canterbury Museum has said that the discovery has helped further understanding of penguin evolution. "There's more to come, too - more fossils which we think represent new species are still awaiting description," he said.
So far, analysis has led scientists to come to the conclusion that this species would swim a lot more than its modern-day relatives. The closest known relative to the species is thought to be the Crossvallia unienwillia, of which a partial fossilized skeleton was discovered in 2000, in Antarctica's Cross Valley.
Fossils of the numerous giant species that have been unearthed in recent years will be displayed at Canterbury Museum as part of a prehistoric New Zealand exhibit later this year.
