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Emperor penguin egg
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Emperor penguin egg
Emperor penguin egg collected in 1911, on Scotts last expedition to Antarctica. The hole shows where the embryo was removed for study. This is 1 of only 3 penguin eggs collected when fresh under extremely harsh conditions in Antarctica by members of Captain Robert Falcon Scotts Terra Nova expedition team. It was hoped that the embryos inside would confirm a link between reptiles and birds. Date: 1911
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Media ID 14238701
© Mary Evans / Natural History Museum
Aptenodytes Aptenodytes Forsteri Black Background Dr Edward Adrian Wilson Dr Edward Wilson Dr Wilson Edward Adrian Wilson Edward Wilson Emperor Penguin Hole Penguin Sauropsid Sauropsida Scott Spheniscidae Sphenisciformes Studioshot Treasures Wilson
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph showcases an Emperor penguin egg, collected during the Terra Nova Expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott in Antarctica in 1911. One of only three fresh penguin eggs ever obtained under the extreme conditions of the frozen continent, this precious specimen was meticulously gathered by members of Scott's team, including the renowned naturalist Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson. The Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), the largest of all penguin species, lays its eggs during the harsh Antarctic winter, making collection a remarkable feat. The egg, belonging to the class Aves and order Sphenisciformes, was carefully transported back to the expedition's base camp for further study. Dr. Wilson, an accomplished ornithologist and zoologist, was particularly interested in the Emperor penguin egg due to its potential to confirm a long-standing scientific theory. At the time, many believed that birds were descendants of reptiles, belonging to the Sauropsida class. The study of the Emperor penguin embryo, which had been carefully removed from the egg, could potentially provide crucial evidence to support this hypothesis. This historical artifact, with the telltale hole where the embryo was extracted, now stands as a testament to the groundbreaking research conducted during the Terra Nova Expedition. The determination and perseverance of Scott's team, despite the unforgiving Antarctic environment, led to significant advancements in our understanding of avian biology and evolution.
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