Good morning everyone. Your hoddler-in-chief is a little tired after having to work late tonight. But the hoddle rests for no one.
We all know the biggest news last month was the first discovery of a new cat species in a century. The hoddle had no choice but to cover it.
And have I got news for you today: The first new penguin have been identified in more than a century.
New DNA analysis conducted by scientists pointed to a fascinating realisation for the gentoo penguins in the Arctic. After hundreds of thousands of years, the gentoo penguin has divered into four distinct evolutionary lineages which scienties say should be treated as its own species.
The names aren’t remarkable: northern gentoo, southern gentoo, southeastern gentoo and the eastern gentoo.
Until recently, however, the southern gentoo was unknown. But researchers said in findings first published in April the previously unidentified bird’s differences only became apparent through analysis of its genetic code.
Here is what the University of California, Berkeley, said in a news release:
“The scientists provided genetic evidence that what was once thought to be one widely dispersed species is actually four separate species of gentoo penguin. One of these was previously unrecognized because, except for slight differences in size and vocalization, it looks like every other gentoo: a white underside and black back, which are optimal for escaping predation while enabling prey capture in an ocean environment. Yet it is clearly genetically different — what scientists refer to as a cryptic species.
“The researchers also concluded that three previously recognized subspecies of gentoo penguins are genetically distinct and should be elevated to full-fledged species status.”
This is all fascinating stuff. And these are some really cool penguins.
But the question remains: When will scientists recognise Chirpy as its own, distinct species?
Fitzie’s track of the day: OSSESSIONE, by Samurai Jay
And now for your links:
Alasdair Gold: “Dejan Kulusevski and the five things Roberto De Zerbi will focus on in Spurs training this week”
BBC: “Honeymoon over as Pocognoli’s Scotland suffer domestic disharmony”
Matt Law: “Secret to Harry Kane’s England longevity? ‘He strikes the ball better than Ronaldo’”
The Independent: “Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence with bombshell statement after walking out on Portugal squad”
ESPN: “Lionel Messi scores in tearful ‘last tango’ for Argentina”
