Pelagornis

A large Pelagornis causes some commotion when flying near the cliffs during the Late Miocene. Some Fulmarus start fake attacks and a few Acrophoca bark at it, while a group of Spheniscus mostly ignore it.

The Pisco formation of Peru shows a rich and fascinating ecosystem on its coast during the Late Miocene (around 7 million years ago) and later epochs. Various species of whales, birds, reptiles, the famous 'Megalodon' (Otodus megalodon) and even a sea-going ground sloth were found here.

With a size of up to 6 m (20 ft) from wingtip to wingtip, Pelagornis had the largest wingspan of any known bird. It was a member of the now extinct family Pelagornithidae, or 'pseudo-tooth birds', which had tooth-like outgrowths of its bones instead of real teeth. With its long and slender wings, it could sail over the ocean for extended periods of time, similar to a modern albatros. Its diet probably consisted mostly of fish.

Fulmarus, or fulmar in English, is a genus of seabird, which still exists today with the species Northern Fulmar and Southern Fulmar. During the Miocene, the species Fulmarus hammeri lived in what is now the Pisco formation.

Acrophoca is an extinct genus of small seal, reaching a length of 1.5 m (5 ft). It probably inhabited near-shore waters.

The penguin genus Spheniscus also still exists today with the species Magellanic, Humboldt, Galapagos and African penguin. The species in the painting, however, is the extinct species Spheniscus megaramphus. It was larger than modern Spheniscus species, reaching a height of 1 m (3 ft), and had a much larger beak (megaramphus means 'large beak').

Digital painting by 'Paleo Pete' Peter Nickolaus, 2023. E-Mail: contact.paleopete@gmail.com