{ Giant fossils show penguin colours were once grey and red - Science Illustrated

Giant fossils show penguin colours were once grey and red

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Penguins only recently donned their snappy black and white coats, palaeontologists have discovered.

An extinct penguin found with preserved evidence of feathers has revealed the famously tuxedo-clad creatures were once shades of reddish brown and grey.

The 1.5 metre fossil of a giant ancient penguin was one of the largest species that has ever lived, and also had an exceptionally long beak with a grooved tip, the New York Times reports.

The discovery was made in Peru in an area known to scientists as having a dense collection of giant penguin fossils.

[New York Times]

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