Waimanu

Waimanu is a genus of early penguin which lived soon after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Its discovery helped support the idea that the radiation of the Neoaves (including most modern birds) either took place before the extinction of the dinosaurs, or that it must have been extremely rapid in geological terms. DNA-studies, e.g., the extensive one by Hackett and colleagues, seem to indicate the latter. While it was a very early member of the sphenisciformes (the order that included modern Penguins), Waimanu was flightless like all modern penguins. Though its wing bones do not show the extreme specializations modern penguins have for an aquatic lifestyle, it does seem adapted for wing-propelled diving, and may have resembled a flightless loon in body shape and maybe the Great Auk in its manner of locomotion. DNA sequence analyses and anatomy argue for a close relationships of penguins and loons, the former lineage specializing for wing-propelled and the latter for foot-propelled diving.

Discovered in Antarctica, in 1980, the name Waimanu comes from Māori for "waterbird". Two species are known, Waimanu manneringi from the Middle Paleocene about 60 million years ago (mya) and Waimanu tuatahi from the Late Paleocene, perhaps 58 mya.