New Penguin Species Discovered

Scientists have discovered a new species of penguin on the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. The new species has been named Pygoscelis kerguelensis.

These birds were previously classified as gentoo penguins, but genetic analysis showed that they differ significantly from other representatives of the species.

Scientists studied the complete genomes of 64 penguins from 10 colonies and determined that what had previously been considered a single species actually consists of four distinct species.

It was also proposed that three other populations previously regarded as subspecies should be recognized as separate species.