The Northern Hemisphere’s Very Own Giant Penguins (Sort Of)

The video explores the evolution and extinction of flightless swimming birds, focusing on Penguins and Plotopterids. Both groups evolved similar adaptations for wing swimming independently, a result of convergent evolution. Fossil records show that Penguins originated in the southern hemisphere over 55 million years ago, while Plotopterids appeared in the northern hemisphere around 35 million years ago. Despite their similarities, these birds are not closely related. Their extinction coincided with the rise of predatory marine mammals, which competed for resources in their habitats.

What role did predatory marine mammals play in the extinction of giant swimming birds?

Discuss the significance of the fossil record in understanding the history of Penguins and Plotopterids.