Eocene penguin remains from Seymour Island

Introduction | The Polish Collection | Other Collections

The fossil remains of penguins (order: Sphenisciformes) are known from Antarctic Peninsula, Australia, New Zealand, South America (Argentina, Chile and Peru) and southern Africa. The oldest bones come from the Paleocene of New Zealand. However, the oldest locally extensive record of extinct penguins is known from the Eocene La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula; Fig. 1), especially from its uppermost unit called Telm7 or Submeseta Allomember (Late Eocene, ca. 34-37 Ma). Unfortunately, almost all findings are isolated bones.

Fig. 1. Location of Seymour Island in Antarctica.

Based on bones from that formation, 15 new species of sphenisciforms have been described since 1905; five of them are of doubtful validity (see below).

⊗ Penguin species from the La Meseta Formation considered distinct (Myrcha et al. 2002, Jadwiszczak 2006a, b; see also Simpson 1971):

Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi Wiman, 1905 ♠ ^
Anthropornis grandis (Wiman, 1905) ♠
Palaeeudyptes klekowskii Myrcha, Tatur & del Valle, 1990 ♠ *
Palaeeudyptes gunnari (Wiman, 1905) ♠ *
Archaeospheniscus wimani (Marples, 1953) #
Delphinornis larseni Wiman, 1905
Delphinornis gracilis Myrcha, Jadwiszczak, Tambussi et al., 2002
Delphinornis arctowskii Myrcha, Jadwiszczak, Tambussi et al., 2002
Marambiornis exilis Myrcha, Jadwiszczak, Tambussi et al., 2002
Mesetaornis polaris Myrcha, Jadwiszczak, Tambussi et al., 2002

    ♠ 'giant' penguins (larger than Recent penguins)
    ^ the largest penguin; species known also from the Eocene of Australia
    * genus known also from the Eocene of Australia and New Zealand, and the Oligocene of New Zealand
    # genus known also from the Oligocene of New Zealand

Predicted body masses for fossil penguins from the La Meseta Fm (very rough estimates!) range between 2.7 and 106.7 kg (based on tibiotarsal preaxio-postaxial diameter; Jadwiszczak 2001, see also references therein). Mean body masses of extant species range from 1.1 kg (Eudyptula minor) to 32.5 kg (Aptenodytes forsteri) (Croxall 1984).
Reference: Croxall J.P. 1984. Seabirds. In: Laws R.M. (ed.), Antarctic Ecology, Academic Press, London etc.

⊗ Dubious taxa (see Jadwiszczak 2006a, b; see also Simpson 1971):

Orthopteryx gigas Wiman, 1905
Ichtyopteryx gracilis Wiman, 1905
Wimanornis seymourensis Simpson, 1971
Tonniornis mesetaensis Tambussi, Acosta Hospitaleche, Reguero & Marenssi, 2006
Tonniornis minimum Tambussi, Acosta Hospitaleche, Reguero & Marenssi, 2006

Eocene penguins are also known from Argentina (an unnamed partial hindlimb; Arthrodytes andrewsi [?]), Australia (Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi, Palaeeudyptes sp.), New Zealand (Pachydyptes ponderosus, Palaeeudyptes marplesi, Palaeeudyptes sp.) and Peru (Icadyptes salasi, Perudyptes devriesi). Remains representing three species have been collected from pre-Eocene rocks. These are: Waimanu manneringi and W. tuatahi from the Paleocene of New Zealand (Waipara Greensand), and Crossvallia unienwillia from the Paleocene of West Antarctica (Cross Valley Formation of Seymour Island). [ selected references ]

The modern penguin fauna consists of 17 species (this is the most widely accepted number) sorted into six genera.

⊗ Paleoclimates

Eocene climates of the northern Antarctic Peninsula (based on data from Dingle et al. 1998).
Abbreviations: cd=cold, cl=cool, wm=warm; d=dry, w=wet; s=seasonal, ns=non-seasonal .

	Climatic episode		Paleoclimate
La Meseta Fm	E4	late Late Eocene	cd + ~d
	E3	late Middle - early Late Eocene	cl + w + ns
	E2	middle Middle Eocene	(wm >> cl) + w + s!
	E1	late Early * - early Middle Eocene	wm! + w + ns

* According to Marenssi (2006), the base of the formation ought to be placed
at 56 Ma (=earliest Eocene).
The transition to glacial marine deposition is immediately above (i.e., is younger than) the La Meseta Fm (unit b of Ivany et al. [2006]). However, the oldest alpine glaciers could have been already present in the area in the Middle Eocene (data from King George Island; Birkenmajer et al. 2005).

References:
   Birkenmajer K., Gazdzicki A., Krajewski K. P., Przybycin A., Solecki A., Tatur A. and Yoon H. I. 2005. First Cenozoic glaciers in West Antarctica. Polish Polar Research, 26:3-12.
   Dingle R.V, Marenssi S.A. & Lavelle M. 1998. High latitude Eocene climate deterioration: evidence from the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 11(6): 571-579.
   Ivany C.L., Van Simaeys S., Domack E.W. and Samson S.D. 2006. Evidence for an earliest Oligocene ice sheet on the Antarctic Peninsula. Geology 34(5): 377-380.
   Marenssi S.A. 2006. Eustatically controlled sedimentation recorded by Eocene strata of the James Ross Basin, Antarctica. In: J.E. Francis, D. Pirrie and J.A. Crame (eds) Cretaceous-Tertiary High-Latitude Palaeoenvironments, James Ross Basin, Antarctica. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 258: 125-133.

Introduction | The Polish Collection | Other Collections

The collection of fossil penguin bones housed in our Museum, consists of more than a thousand bones and their fragments from the La Meseta Formation. It was acquired by Andrzej Myrcha (Warsaw University, Branch in Bialystok; since 1997 - University of Bialystok), Andrzej Gaździcki (Polish Academy of Sciences) and Andrzej Tatur (Polish Academy of Sciences) in 1985-94. This set of fossil remains includes five holotypes (Figs 2-3) and is intensively studied by Dr Piotr Jadwiszczak.

⊗ Articles devoted to bones from the Polish collection (sorted by year):

Jadwiszczak P. 2008. An intriguing penguin bone from the Late Eocene of Seymour Island (Antarctic Peninsula). Antarctic Science doi: 10.1017/S0954102008001405; published online by Cambridge University Press 27 May 2008.

Mikołuszko W. (text; key illustration [a reconstruction of Palaeeudyptes klekowskii] by D. Cyranowska, photo and scientific consultation by P. Jadwiszczak) 2007. Wyspa pingwinów. National Geographic Polska 8(95). [in Polish] [PDF]

Jadwiszczak P. 2006b. Eocene penguins of Seymour Island, Antarctica: The earliest record, taxonomic problems and some evolutionary considerations. Polish Polar Research 27(4): 287-302. [PDF]

Jadwiszczak P. 2006a. Eocene penguins of Seymour Island, Antarctica: Taxonomy. Polish Polar Research 27(1): 3-62. [PDF]

Jadwiszczak P. 2003. The early evolution of Antarctic penguins. In: Huiskes A.H.L., Gieskes W.W.C., Rozema J., Schorno R.M.L., van der Vies S.M., Wolff W.J. (eds), Antarctic Biology in a Global Context, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden: 148-151.

Myrcha A., Jadwiszczak P., Tambussi C.P., Noriega J.I., Gaździcki A., Tatur A., del Valle R.A. 2002. Taxonomic revision of Eocene Antarctic penguins based on tarsometatarsal morphology. Polish Polar Research 23 (1): 5-46. [PDF]

Jadwiszczak P. 2001. Body size of Eocene Antarctic penguins. Polish Polar Research 22 (2): 147-158.

Jadwiszczak P. 2000. The fossil record of Antarctic penguins. In: Grześ M., Lankauf K.R., Sobota I. (eds), Polish Polar Studies, 27^th International Polar Symposium, Toruń, Poland: 39-45.

Myrcha A., Tatur A. and del Valle R. 1990. A new species of fossil penguin from Seymour Island, West Antarctica. Alcheringa 14: 195-205.

Myrcha A. and Tatur A. 1986. Argentinian-Polish scientific co-operation in Antarctica (1984-1986). Polish Polar Research 7(4): 427-431.

⊗ Holotypes from the Polish collection

All presented holotypes of fossil penguin species are isolated bones - tarsometatarsi.

Fig. 2. Palaeeudyptes klekowskii [Zoological Record Volume 127]
Rough reconstruction & tarsometatarsus IB/P/B-0065 (dorsal and plantar view, respectively); size bars are 5 cm long.
Reference:
Myrcha A. et al. 1990. A new species of fossil penguin from Seymour Island, West Antarctica.
Alcheringa 14: 195-205.

Fig. 3. Holotypes of small-sized fossil penguins.
A) Delphinornis arctowskii [Zoological Record Volume 141]
B) Delphinornis gracilis [Zoological Record Volume 141]
C) Marambiornis exilis [Zoological Record Volume 141]
D) Mesetaornis polaris [Zoological Record Volume 141]
Specimens (order from A to D): IB/P/B-0484, IB/P/B-0279a, IB/P/B-0490, IB/P/B-0278;
dorsal and plantar view, respectively.
For original sizes and other info see the reference below.
Myrcha A., Jadwiszczak P., Tambussi C.P., Noriega J.I., Gaździcki A., Tatur A. & Del Valle R., 2002.
Taxonomic revision of Eocene Antarctic penguins based on tarsometatarsal morphology.
Polish Polar Research 23 (1): 5-46. [ PDF ].

⊗ Some other interesting specimens from the Polish collection

Fig. 4. Comparison of an upper jaw of a 'giant' fossil penguin (Anthropornis sp. or Palaeeudyptes sp.;
specimen IB/P/B-0167) with a modern skull (King Penguin, the largest bill within Recent penguins);
dorsal view (see Myrcha et al. 1990 and Jadwiszczak 2003).

Fig. 5. Comparison of neurocranium of Archaeospheniscus wimani or Palaeeudyptes gunnari (specimen
IB/P/B-0346) with a modern skull (Pygoscelis papua); dorsal view (see also Jadwiszczak 2006a).

Fig. 6. The only penguin ungual phalanx known from the La Meseta Formation
(specimen IB/P/B-0271a); side view (see Jadwiszczak 2006a).

Fig. 7. Incomplete humeri from the lower (=oldest) part of the La Meseta Fm (IB/P/B-0585 [from Telm2],
IB/P/B-0584 [from Telm1], respectively); dorsal view (see Jadwiszczak 2006b).

The Polish collection of fossil bones from Seymour Island still can hide great surprises that come up as a by-product of studying fossil penguins; e.g., see
Jadwiszczak P., Gaździcki A., Tatur A. 2008. An ibis-like bird from the Upper La Meseta Formation (Late Eocene) of Seymour Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science 20(4): 413-414.

Introduction | The Polish Collection | Other Collections

Penguin remains from the La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island) are scattered throughout the world. Known collections are in: Argentina (more than 2000 bones in the Museo de La Plata - Tambussi et al. 2006), England, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden and the United States.

⊗ Holotypes (tarsometatarsi) of distinct "La Meseta" penguin species (Myrcha et al. 2002, Jadwiszczak 2006a) in other collections^ (according to Simpson 1971):

- specimen RM A 45 (Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi) in Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm*
- specimen RM A 22 (Anthropornis grandis) in Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm*
- specimen RM A 7 (Palaeeudyptes gunnari) in Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm*
- specimen BM(NH) A/3331 (Archaeospheniscus wimani) in Natural History Museum, London#
- specimen RM A 21 (Delphinornis larseni) in Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm*

   ^ other collections means all except the Polish one
   * Swedish Museum of Natural History (Riksmuseet) in Simpson 1971
   # British Museum (Natural History) in Simpson 1971

⊗ Holotypes of other^ "La Meseta" penguin species (according to Simpson 1971 and Tambussi et al. 2006):

- specimen RM A 23a; partial synsacrum (Orthopteryx gigas) in Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm*
- specimen RM A 20; incomplete tarsometatarsus (Ichtyopteryx gracilis) in Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm*
- specimen BM(NH) A/3325; nearly complete humerus (Wimanornis seymourensis) in Natural History Museum, London**
- specimen MLP 93-X-1-145; complete (?) humerus (Tonniornis mesetaensis) in Museo de La Plata#
- specimen MLP 93-I-6-3; incomplete humerus (Tonniornis minimum) in Museo de La Plata#

    ^ i.e., species not considered distinct or dubious taxa (Simpson 1971, Myrcha et al. 2002, Jadwiszczak 2006a)
    * Swedish Museum of Natural History (Riksmuseet) in Simpson 1971
   ** British Museum (Natural History) in Simpson 1971
    # Museo de La Plata (La Plata, Argentina) in Tambussi et al. 2006

⊗ Key articles devoted to fossil penguin bones from other collections (La Meseta Formation only; sorted by year):

Ksepka D.T. and Bertelli S. 2006. Fossil penguin (Aves: Sphenisciformes) cranial material from the Eocene of Seymour Island (Antarctica). Historical Biology 18(4): 389 - 395.

Tambussi C.P., Acosta Hospitaleche C.I., Reguero M.A. and Marenssi S.A. 2006. Late Eocene penguins from West Antarctica: systematics and biostratigraphy. In: J.E. Francis, D. Pirrie and J.A. Crame (eds) Cretaceous-Tertiary High-Latitude Paleoenvironments, James Ross Basin, Antarctica. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 258: 145 - 161.

Simpson G. G. 1981. Notes on some fossil penguins including a new genus from Patagonia. Ameghiniana 18: 266-272.

Cione A.L., del Valle R.A., Rinaldi C.A. and Tonni E.P. 1977. Nota preliminar sobre los pingüinos y tiburones del terciario inferior de la isla Vicecomodoro Marambio, Antartida. Instituto Antártico Argentino, Contribución 213: 1 - 21.

Simpson G.G. 1971. Review of fossil penguins from Seymour Island. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 178: 357 - 387.

Marples B.J. 1953. Fossil penguins from the mid-Tertiary of Seymour Island. Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey Scientific Reports 5: 1 - 15.

Simpson G.G. 1946. Fossil penguins. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 87: 1 - 99.

Wiman C. 1905. Über die alttertiären Vertebraten der Seymourinsel. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Südpolar-Expedition 1901 - 1903 3: 1 - 37.

Wiman C. 1905. Vorläufige Mitteilung über die alttertiären Vertebraten der Seymourinsel. Bulletin of the Geological Institute of Uppsala 6: 247 - 253.

⊗ External link: Wikipedia on penguins

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Last modified: 2008-07-11