When Giant Penguins Stalked Peru

Roaming Peru 40,000,000 years ago were giant-sized penguins that stood 152 cm (5 feet) tall.

There is new scientific evidence to suggest that giant penguins roamed Peru much earlier than previously thought. It was formerly believed that penguins did not venture out of the friendly cold Antarctic region until 10 million years ago.

Two penguin skeletons have recently been unearthed. One of the penguins was a 152-cm "giant" with a long, sharp spear-like beak-- the kind that might make the modern penguin's arch rival, the seal, think twice before attacking.

This particular giant penguin is larger than any penguin now living and is the third largest to have lived during the dinosaur age when all life seemed to be gargantuan.

Scientists expressed surprise that such a large penguin would have lived in a warm climate.