How have penguins changed over time?

Answer 1

Penguin evolution is rather complicated. However, here is what we know...

1. About 70 to 80 million years ago, the ancestors of penguins diverged from other birds.

2. About 62 million years ago (just 3 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs), a flightless, loon-like penguin genus called Waimanu lived in New Zealand, was evolving wings that were adapted for swimming underwater.

3. Around 40 to 30 million years ago, there were many types of giant penguins, the tallest being 6 feet (this was Nordenskjoeld's Giant Penguin. They leave no descendants however, and they died out from competition with toothed whales (which includes modern dolphins and orcas).

That's as much as I know.