Palaeospheniscus patagonicus | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Sphenisciformes |
Family: | Spheniscidae |
Genus: | † Palaeospheniscus |
Species: | †P. patagonicus
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Binomial name | |
†Palaeospheniscus patagonicus
Moreno & Mercerat 1891
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Synonyms | |
Palaeospheniscus patagonicus is the type species of the penguin genus Palaeospheniscus, which is known from fossils. It stood about 65 to 75 centimetres (26 to 30 in) high in life, roughly the size of an African penguin.
This species is known from several dozen bones, found in Early Miocene strata of the Gaiman Formation. The specimens from known localities were collected near Trelew and Gaiman in Chubut Province, Argentina. [1]
Currently, there is some debate about whether Palaeospheniscus wimani is a synonym of this species or not. [2]