Eudyptes atatu
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| †Eudyptes atatu Temporal range: Pliocene | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Sphenisciformes |
| Family: | Spheniscidae |
| Genus: | Eudyptes |
| Species: | †E. atatu |
| Binomial name | |
| †Eudyptes atatu Thomas et al, 2020 | |
Eudyptes atatu is an extinct species of crested penguin that lived during the Pliocene epoch around 3.2 million years ago. It is considered the first stem species of the crested penguin genus.[1] Eudyptes atatu is thought to have inhabited what is now New Zealand. The bird's existence has been cited as evidence supporting the idea that penguins originated in Zealandia before spreading across the Southern Hempishere.[2]
The generic term Eudyptes derives from Ancient Greek, and translates to "fine diver" in English. The species name atatu is a contraction between the words "ata" and "tū" from the Te Reo Maori language, meaning "dawn". "Dawn" refers to the species' place within the fossil record, representing the beginning of the crested penguin lineage in New Zealand.[3]
