This specimen, field designation: GEORGE, is a Late Miocene, Early Pliocene penguin, Paleospheniscus sp.. Paleospheniscus was a very successful marine bird as evidenced by its abundance in the fossil record. These active, diving, marine birds lived in a warm climate near the equator. Paleospheniscus is very similar to modern penguins, and much like the penguin of today they had dense appendicular, (limb) bones to aid them in diving and swimming under the waters surface in search of food. Evidence suggests it was ancestral to the modern Humboldt penguin, which inhabits the offshore islands of Peru and Chile.
The replica is produced with removable head, feet, and wings. It can be mounted in standing, swimming or diving pose. Hand painted a dark brown similar to the color of the original bone.
An excellent stand-alone exhibit or include it in a marine diorama interacting with other Tertiary marine animals.