Evolution of penguins’ wings revealed in new fossils

Artist’s concept of what the ancient penguin species, Pakudyptes hakataramea, may have looked like. The fossil wing of this specimen has shed new light on the evolution of modern penguins’ wings. Image via Tatsuya Shinmura/ Ashoro Museum of Paleontology/ University of Otago.

Penguins with their flipper-like wings may look comical as they waddle on land. But in the water, those wings and torpedo-shaped bodies make these seabirds expert, graceful divers. Scientists said on August 1, 2024, that fossilized penguin bones from New Zealand...