Scientists unearth prehistoric seabird...Penguin over 7 feet tall

Fossil unearthed in Antarctica shows the 'colossus penguin' would top a 6 foot 7 inch soccer player

 

A huge penguin that roamed the earth millions of years ago would have dwarfed a man over six feet tall, in height as well as weight,  according to scientists.

Fossil experts at the La Plata Museum in Argentina dubbed the ancient bird, the "colossus penguin.”

The scientists say, bones unearthed in the Antarctic – the most complete fossil ever found in the region – prove the giant bird from 37 million years ago could have topped 7ft.

 Shorter: Emperor penguins are usually around 4ft 5ins tall

The fossil find includes the longest recorded fused ankle-foot bone as well as parts of a wing bone.

Brainiacs say the physical construction of the mega bird would have allowed the winged wonder to stay underwater for a lung-busting 40 minutes.

And from those bones, researchers estimate the extinct species would have stood at 7ft or more from toe to beak tip, and weighed as much as 270 pounds.

The tallest living species of penguin, the emperor, is usually around the 4ft 5ins mark. Penguins are very cute as they shuffle around in their tuxedos but the 'colossus penguin' is the stuff of nightmares.