How did the wings of *Waimanu* primarily differ from the wings of modern penguins?
Answer
They retained small wings, not fully adapted for efficient, sustained swimming locomotion.
Unlike modern penguins with specialized flippers, *Waimanu* possessed small wings whose skeletal structure indicated they were not yet fully adapted for the powerful underwater propulsion seen in later species.
Related Questions
During which geological epoch is the existence of *Waimanu* firmly placed?What was the estimated height of a fully grown *Waimanu*?How did the wings of *Waimanu* primarily differ from the wings of modern penguins?From which geographical location do the crucial fossil specimens of *Waimanu* originate?To which extinct family does the genus *Waimanu* belong, solidifying its role as a foundational group?*Waimanu* evolved rapidly in the aftermath of which major extinction event?*Waimanu* exhibits characteristics placing it in a transitional phase between which two stages of evolution?How does the size of *Waimanu* compare to the largest modern penguin species?What does the existence of multiple species within the genus, like *Waimanu handleyi*, suggest about this early lineage?In the progression of wing structure, what adaptation had *Waimanu* achieved before the evolution of fully developed flippers seen in later Eocene genera?