Fossil found by pupils was of unknown giant penguin

A GIANT fossilised penguin discovered by schoolchildren in New Zealand has been classified as a new species.

The find, made in 2006 by pupils on a fossil hunting field trip in Kawhia Harbour, was “a rare privilege” at the time but now it has taken on new meaning.

Researchers from the US, who visited Waikato Museum in Hamilton to analyse the fossil, said it is up to 34 million years old and from a time when much of the area was under water.

They used 3D scanning techniques and compared the fossil with digital versions of bones from around the world and they also produced a 3D-printed replica of the fossil for the Hamilton Junior naturalists.

Dr Daniel Thomas of Massey University said: “The penguin is similar to the Kairuku giant penguins first described from Otago, but has much longer legs, which the researchers used to name the penguin waewaeroa – te reo Maori for ‘long legs’.

“These longer legs would have made the penguin much taller than other Kairuku while it was walking on land, perhaps around 1.4m tall (4ft 7in), and may have influenced how fast it could swim or how deep it could dive.”

He added: “The fossil penguin reminds us that we share Zealandia (ancient New Zealand) with incredible animal lineages that reach deep into time, and this sharing gives us an important guardianship role.

“The way the fossil penguin was discovered, by children out discovering nature, reminds us of the importance of encouraging future generations to become kaitiaki (guardians).”

Mike Safey, president of the Hamilton Junior Naturalist Club, said: “It was a rare privilege for the kids in our club to have the opportunity to discover and

‘The fossil reminds us that we share Zealandia with incredible animal lineages that reach deep into time’

rescue this enormous fossil penguin.”

Penguins have a fossil record reaching almost as far back as the age of the dinosaurs, and the most ancient of the species have been discovered in New Zealand.

Fossil penguins from Zealandia have mostly been found in Otago and Canterbury although discoveries have recently been made in Taranaki and Waikato.

The research, in association with experts from Bruce Museum in Connecticut, was published in the