News > The Evolutionary History Of Penguins Is Far From Black And White

The Evolutionary History Of Penguins Is Far From Black And White

Did they originate in Antarctica — where they're numerous today — or closer to Australia and New Zealand, as other scientists have suggested?

The common ancestor of penguins indeed first appeared off the coast of Australia and New Zealand, and nearby South Pacific islands, some 22 million years ago.  Then, about 11 million years ago, a current revved up, and the researchers say penguins used it to slingshot themselves throughout the Southern Hemisphere.