Largest living penguin species

The world's largest living species of penguin is the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), native to the frozen southern continent of Antarctica. The males tend to be slightly larger than the females, standing up to 1.3 metres (4 feet 3 inches) tall and weighing as much as 45 kilograms (99 pounds).

The emperor penguin was positively dwarfed, however, by the prehistoric giant penguins, some of which were taller than an adult human. Most notable was the colossus penguin (Palaeeudyptes klekowskii), which lived 37–40 million years ago. Based on a fossilized tarsometatarsus (a fused ankle and foot bone) found on Antarctica's Seymour Island, it's estimated this prodigious penguin stood up to 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) tall and weighed around 115 kilograms (153 pounds).