Aptenodytes
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The genus Aptenodytes contains two extant species of penguins collectively known as "the great penguins".<ref name = "DeNapoli"/>
EtymologyEdit
The name "Aptenodytes" is a composite of Ancient Greek elements, "ἀ-πτηνο-δύτης" (without-wings-diver).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
TaxonomyEdit
- King penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus
- Aptenodytes patagonicus patagonicus
- Aptenodytes patagonicus halli
- Emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri
- Ridgen's penguin (Aptenodytes ridgeni), an extinct species known from fossil bones of Early or Late Pliocene age.
Combined morphological and molecular data<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> have shown the genus Aptenodytes to be basal to all other living penguins, that is, the genus split off from a branch which led to all other species. DNA evidence suggests this split occurred around 40 million years ago.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> This had been foreshadowed by an attempt to classify penguins by their behavior, which also predicted the genus' basal nature.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Template:Multiple image
SpeciesEdit
Two species are extant:<ref name = zoonomen>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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