Re: Proto-penguins lived with dinosaurs

[Michael Habib <mhabib5@jhmi.edu>]

The article is indeed misleading (though it clears things up a bit if 
you read through the whole thing).  What the authors actually did is 
use the new Paleocene fossils as _calibration_ points for a molecular 
phylogeny of extant penguins.  In doing so, they created a dated 
phylogeny whose estimated root node (ie. base of a monophyletic 
Sphenisciformes) has a near K/T date.  The date for the Waimanu fossils 
themselves was determined in typical fashion (I don't know if the date 
is paleomagnetic or radioisotopic in nature).  Basically they could 
recalibrate the molecular phylogeny for penguins using an additional 
(and very ancient) absolute date.

In terms of the taxon actually being a penguin, I would be very 
surprised if the animals turn out to be anything else.  Ewan Fordyce 
gave me a sneak peek at some very high resolution photos a while back, 
and they are amazing critters.  The postcrania is pretty well derived 
already, so there isn't much question that the animals are fully 
fledged Sphensciforms.  (I also got to see the newest giants that are 
referenced in the article, but I'll refrain from saying more until the 
paper is released).

Very cool stuff.

Cheers,

--Mike Habib