Pedro Argument Essay

In 2010, scientists discovered the fossil of a giant penguin in Peru, nicknamed Pedro. Known scientifically as Inkayacu paracasensis, Pedro lived around 36 million years ago, stood nearly 5 feet tall, and had reddish-brown and gray feathers—very different from the penguins we know today.

Some people might argue that modern penguins, with their smaller size and different coloring, are too different to be considered worthy descendants of such an impressive ancient species. Others believe that modern penguins have adapted and survived in amazing ways, making them just as remarkable as their ancestor.

A Giant Penguin from the Past - Wired Magazine

Scientists in Peru found the fossil of a giant penguin that lived about 36 million years ago. Its name is Inkayacu paracasensis, which means "water king" in Quechua, a local language. This penguin was about 5 feet tall and weighed over 100 pounds—much bigger than today’s emperor penguins.

One of the most exciting things about this fossil is that it had feathers still preserved. This is the first time scientists have found penguin feathers in a fossil, and they gave us some cool clues.

The feathers showed that Inkayacu had flipper-like wings, similar to modern penguins. This means penguins started swimming like they do today a long time ago.

But here’s the surprising part: the feathers were not black and white like modern penguins. Instead, they were gray and reddish-brown. Scientists studied tiny parts of the feathers called melanosomes, which affect color. These melanosomes looked different from those in today’s penguins.

This tells us that penguins didn’t always look the way they do now. Their coloring probably changed over time to help them survive better in the water or in different environments.

Finding Inkayacu helps us learn more about how penguins evolved and how their feathers changed over millions of years.

Did All Penguins Come from One Ancestor? Not Everyone Thinks So - Biology Letters

Penguins are a special group of birds, with 18 different species living in places all over the world—from icy Antarctica to sunny beaches near the equator. Most scientists agree that penguins share a common ancestor, meaning they all came from one original penguin species that lived millions of years ago. But not everyone is convinced this is the full story.

One reason to question the idea of a single common ancestor is the huge variety in penguins today. Some, like emperor penguins, are built for freezing cold, while others, like Galápagos penguins, live in warm tropical climates. These big differences in size, behavior, and environment might suggest that different types of penguins developed separately to fit their surroundings.

Fossil evidence also brings up questions. Some penguin fossils found in South America, New Zealand, and Antarctica look very different from modern penguins—and some of them are even bigger than today’s largest species. These differences can make it hard to connect all penguins to a single ancient ancestor. Some scientists argue that these fossils could represent different lines of penguin-like birds that developed on their own, not just one long family tree.

Even DNA studies, which many scientists use to support common ancestry, can be unclear. Different studies have given very different dates for when penguins first appeared. Some say it was 40 million years ago, while others say it was only 20 million. If DNA results can change so much depending on how the test is done, it’s hard to be completely sure about a single family origin.

Another reason for doubt is how well penguins are adapted to their environments. Penguins living in cold places have special features like thick feathers and fat to stay warm. Tropical penguins have lighter builds and different nesting habits. These features seem to match the places where the penguins live—not necessarily the idea that they all came from the same ancestor.

While many scientists still believe penguins evolved from one species, there are good reasons to keep asking questions. Could penguins have developed separately in different places? Are the differences between them greater than we thought?

Exploring other possibilities helps scientists stay curious and open-minded—and that’s a big part of how science works.

Meet Pedro: The Fossil Penguin from the Past - National Geographic

Pedro is the nickname scientists gave to a very special fossil of a giant penguin. It was discovered in Peru and is officially known as Inkayacu paracasensis, which means “water king” in Quechua, a native language spoken in the Andes. This fossil is super important because it helps scientists learn more about how penguins looked and lived millions of years ago.

Pedro lived about 36 million years ago—long before humans existed! He was much bigger than any penguin alive today. He stood around 5 feet tall and weighed over 100 pounds, about twice as heavy as today’s emperor penguins.

One of the most exciting things about Pedro is that parts of his feathers were still preserved, which almost never happens with fossils. When scientists looked closely at the feathers, they found out that Pedro’s wings were shaped like flippers, just like modern penguins. This shows that penguins started swimming like this a long time ago.

But Pedro didn’t look just like the penguins we know today. His feathers weren’t black and white. Instead, they were likely gray and reddish-brown, based on special color cells called melanosomes. These are tiny parts of feathers that give them their color. This discovery tells scientists that the famous tuxedo look of modern penguins developed later.

Pedro is an amazing discovery because it gives us a rare look at what penguins were like in the past and how they changed over millions of years.

Your task: Write an argument essay in which you take a clear position on the question:

Are modern penguins worthy descendants of Pedro the Giant Penguin?

In your essay:

• State your claim clearly.
• Support your argument with evidence about Pedro and modern penguins (such as size, appearance, environment, and survival adaptations).
• Address a counterclaim and explain why your position is stronger.
• Use logical reasoning and examples to strengthen your case.

Remember: The goal is to convince your reader with clear, well-organized ideas and strong support!