''Spheniscus megaramphus'' (from Greek; ''megas'', 'large', and ''ramphos'', 'beak') is an extinct species of

penguin Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes , family Spheniscidae ) are a group of aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is found north of the Equator. Highly adapt ...

that lived during the

Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million years ago) to 5.333 Ma. The ...

(present

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

)

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

. It is notable for being the largest known species of banded penguin, along with having a proportionally large beak. The species was described in 2003 by Marcelo Stucchi based on fossils found in the fossiliferous

Pisco Formation The Pisco Formation is a geologic formation located in Peru, on the southern coastal desert of Ica and Arequipa. The approximately thick formation was deposited in the Pisco Basin, spanning an age from the Middle Miocene up to the Early Pleis ...

of the

Pisco Basin Pisco Basin ( es, Cuenca de Pisco) is a sedimentary basin extending over in southwestern Peru.Solís Mundaca, 2018, p.1 The basin has a thick sedimentary fill, which is about half the thickness of more northern foreland basins in Peru. The old ...

, southwestern Peru. At about three feet in height, ''Spheniscus megaramphus'' was significantly larger and more robust than any living banded penguin. The beak of ''S. megaramphus'' is also proportionally much larger compared to extant banded penguins; the beak of ''S. megaramphus'' exceeds the length of its cranium, whereas the

Humboldt penguin The Humboldt penguin (''Spheniscus humboldti'') is a medium-sized penguin. It resides in South America, its range mainly contains most of coastal Peru. Its nearest relatives are the African penguin, the Magellanic penguin and the Galápagos p ...

's beak and cranium are roughly equal in length. ''S. megaramphus'' is one of many extinct penguin species found in the Pisco Formation, along with other extinct banded penguins such as '' S. muizoni'' and '' S. urbinai'', the latter of which is similar in size to ''S. megaramphus''.

Paleobiology

Spheniscus megaramphus S urbinai and S humboldti

The shape and size of ''S. megaramphus'' beak would have allowed the species to hunt relatively large prey. As with living banded penguins, ''S. megaramphus'' obtained water from the fish and squid it ate, with excess sea salt being filtered out of the body via a

salt gland The salt gland is an organ for excreting excess salts. It is found in the cartilaginous fishes subclass elasmobranchii (sharks, rays, and skates), seabirds, and some reptiles. Salt glands can be found in the rectum of sharks. Birds and reptil ...

. ''S. megaramphus'' had comparatively large salt glands, an adaptation that suggests the species spent much of its life out at sea.

References

{{Portal, Paleontology Fossils of Peru †megaramphus Extinct penguins Miocene birds of South America Neogene Peru Pisco Formation Fossil taxa described in 2003