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. 1976 Oct 27;8(3):271-82.
doi: 10.1007/BF01731000.

Penguin evolution: protein comparisons demonstrate phylogenetic relationship to flying aquatic birds

C Y Ho, E M Prager, A C Wilson, D T Osuga, R E Feeney

Penguin evolution: protein comparisons demonstrate phylogenetic relationship to flying aquatic birds

C Y Ho et al. J Mol Evol. .

Abstract

Quantitative immunological comparisons of three avian proteins, transferrin, ovalbumin, and penalbumin, indicate that penguins are phylogenetically most closely related to loons, albatrosses, herons, and grebes. These data support the theory that the ancestors of penguins were flying oceanic birds and that flightlessness in penguins has evolved independently from flightlessness in ratites.

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References

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