Scientists identify a new penguin species hidden for more than a century through DNA research (Images: X)
Kerguelen Islands: Scientists have discovered a new species of penguin for the first time in more than 100 years, but the breakthrough did not come from unusual physical features or a rare sighting. Instead, researchers uncovered the difference hidden deep inside the bird’s DNA. The newly identified species, named Pygoscelis kerguelensis or the southeastern gentoo penguin, is found on the remote Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. Located around 1,200 miles north of Antarctica, the isolated islands are among the world’s most remote ecosystems.
The discovery was made after scientists found that gentoo penguins, which were previously classified as a single species are actually four genetically distinct species.
An international research team led by scientists from the University of California, Berkeley along with researchers from Chile and other institutions, conducted a detailed genomic study to examine gentoo penguin populations across the Southern Ocean. Researchers analysed whole-genome sequences from 64 penguins belonging to 10 breeding colonies across almost the entire range of the species.
The study revealed four separate gentoo penguin species:
The findings were published in the journal Communications Biology in a study titled “Genomic analysis reveals four species of gentoo penguins.”
The newly identified southeastern gentoo penguin is considered a “cryptic species” — a species that appears almost identical to another species, but is genetically different. Scientists found only minor physical differences between the penguin groups, including variations in body size and vocal patterns. However, genetic analysis revealed much clearer differences between the populations.
Researchers estimate that the four gentoo penguin species separated between 300,000 and 500,000 years ago due to geographical isolation and changing environmental conditions.
Scientists believe natural barriers, including the Antarctic Polar Front — a major boundary between different ocean water systems — played an important role in separating penguin populations. The birds’ behaviour may have also contributed to their evolution. Gentoo penguins usually return to the same breeding colonies and remain closely connected to their local habitats.
Over thousands of generations, isolated populations developed unique genetic traits suited to their environments.
One of the most surprising aspects of the discovery is that the southeastern gentoo penguin was not newly encountered by humans. The specimen used to officially describe the species was collected from Kerguelen Island in 1897. Other preserved samples from the region date back to the 19th century. Scientists had already studied these penguins for generations, but had grouped them with other gentoo populations because their physical appearance was so similar. The latest research also identified genetic changes linked to survival traits such as temperature regulation, oxygen use and metabolism, showing how penguins adapted to different environments.
The discovery highlights how modern DNA technology is transforming scientists’ understanding of biodiversity, revealing hidden species that have existed alongside known animals for centuries.
