A review of Australian fossil penguins (Aves: Sphenisciformes)

Abstract

Park, T. and Fitzgerald, E.M.G. 2012. A review of Australian fossil penguins (Aves: Sphenisciformes). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 69: 309–325. Australian fossil penguins (Sphenisciformes) are reviewed as a basis for future primary research. The five named species are based on type specimens of Eocene, Miocene—Pliocene and Holocene age collected from South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. The phylogenetic affinities of these taxa remain unresolved. Only one type specimen is represented by clearly associated elements of a skeleton; the rest are single bones (isolated partial humeri and a pelvis). Further research is required to establish the taxonomic status of Pachydyptes simpsoni, Anthropodyptes gilli, Pseudaptenodyes macraei, ?Pseudaptenodytes minor and Tasidyptes hunteri. Additional described specimens include isolated postcranial elements from the Late Oligocene of South Australia and Late Miocene—Early Pliocene of Victoria. Other Miocene and Pliocene specimens are housed in Museum Victoria. These specimens have the potential to shed light on the Neogene palaeobiogeography and diversification of crown group penguins.