| Exactly where the penguin fits into bird classification is rather debated, and so there is a fair amount of speculation as to what exactly the penguins evolved from. However, the oldest known penguins are some 62 million years old, and perhaps looked more like straight-beaked cormorants than modern penguins. Originating around New Zealand, they would soon move throughout the southern hemisphere, and produce a variety of different builds. The largest penguins of which existed grew to almost 2 metres in height, living some 35 million years ago, but 25 million years ago, these would disappear. Today, there are six genera of living penguins - the genus //Aptenodytes// contains the 'great penguins' - the king and emperor penguins, which are considered most similar to the original penguins. The penguins of genus //Pygoscelis// are occasionally known as 'brush-tail penguins' for their relatively long tails. The penguins of genus //Spheniscus// are known as 'banded penguins', and all have similar patterning. Penguins of genus //Eudyptes// all look relatively similar, with vivid yellow crests, and orange beaks. The smallest penguins belong to the genus //Eudyptula//, which only grow to about 30 cm in height, aptly named 'Little Penguins'. There is only one living species in the genus //Megadyptes//, the Yellow-eyed Penguin. Of all penguin species, only one has become somewhat native to the Northern hemisphere - as the Galapagos Penguin's range extends northwards. | Exactly where the penguin fits into bird classification is rather debated, and so there is a fair amount of speculation as to the precise ancestry of the penguin. However, the oldest known penguins are some 62 million years old, and perhaps looked more like straight-beaked cormorants than modern penguins. Originating around New Zealand, they would soon move throughout the southern hemisphere, and produce a variety of different builds. The largest penguins of which existed grew to almost 2 metres in height, living some 35 million years ago, but 25 million years ago, these would disappear. Today, there are six genera of living penguins - the genus //Aptenodytes// contains the 'great penguins' - the king and emperor penguins, which are considered most similar to the original penguins. The penguins of genus //Pygoscelis// are occasionally known as 'brush-tail penguins' for their relatively long tails. The penguins of genus //Spheniscus// are known as 'banded penguins', and all have similar patterning. Penguins of genus //Eudyptes// all look relatively similar, with vivid yellow crests, and orange beaks. The smallest penguins belong to the genus //Eudyptula//, which only grow to about 30 cm in height, aptly named 'Little Penguins'. There is only one living species in the genus //Megadyptes//, the Yellow-eyed Penguin. Of all penguin species, only one has become somewhat native to the Northern hemisphere - as the Galapagos Penguin's range extends northwards. |
| [{{ :penguinspecies.png?nolink&400|//Here are three more penguin species. From left to right, the Gentoo Penguin is mostly found on islands surrounding Antarctica. This Rockhopper Penguin is probably a juvenile, when it becomes an adult, its skin will be more sharply coloured. And the African Penguin is occasionally known as the 'jackass penguin', for its braying calls, similar to that of a donkey.//}}] | [{{ :penguinspecies.png?nolink&400|//Here are three more penguin species. From left to right, the Gentoo Penguin is mostly found on islands surrounding Antarctica. This Rockhopper Penguin is probably a juvenile, when it becomes an adult, its skin will be more sharply coloured. And the African Penguin is occasionally known as the 'jackass penguin', for its braying calls, similar to that of a donkey.//}}] |
