Aptenodytes forsteri, Emperor Penguin

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Aptenodytes forsteri, the emperor penguin, stands out as a flightless Antarctic bird with distinctive physical characteristics and behaviors. In general, penguins (Spheniscus demersus, the jackass penguin is another example) are highly specialized birds without clear relatives among other living birds. However, most studies suggest that they are related to one of several seabirds. These possible sister groups include loons, loons and grebes, or tubenoses. Confusion about their relationships is likely due to similar adaptations among seabirds in the same environment, as well as the fact that penguins evolved nearly 55 million years ago and have undergone extreme changes since then. Aptenodytes forsteri Penguin relationships are also unclear, with six living genera forming natural groups. The aptenodytid penguins, which include the emperor penguin and the king penguin, may be most closely related to pygoscelid penguins (Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap). Alternatively, they could be the earliest group of living penguins to have evolved, with no close relationship to other penguin species. This hypothesis is supported by penguin biogeography: because penguins likely originated in Antarctica, the species living there today probably evolved first.