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566 / Cenozoic
Inkayacu
Inkayacu paracasensis
A near-human-height diving bird preserves feathers and melanosomes that opened direct study of ancient penguin color.
- Time range
- About 36 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Eocene
- Geographic range
- Warm Pacific coast · Peru
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Inkayacu?
Inkayacu (Inkayacu paracasensis) was an extinct organism known from About 36 million years ago, with a range in Warm Pacific coast · Peru.
Life and ecology
It propelled itself after fish along warm coasts before establishment of today's cold current system.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Inkayacu disappear?
Oligocene ocean-current, climate and predator changes ended the species.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Inkayacu?
An associated skeleton, flippers and feather impressions preserve melanosomes; exact color remains affected by fossilization.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS