The colossus penguin or Palaeeudyptes klekowskii was an ancient penguin species that was the largest of its kind. It was initially uncovered in Antarctica in 1984 during the late Eocene epoch approximately 37 40 million years ago. The colossus penguin was almost twice as huge as the emperor penguin the largest living penguin at 6 feet 1.8 meters in height and 250 pounds 115 kilograms. Its massive size is typically attributed to an adaptation to the Eocenes warmer temperature which provided more food supplies and reduced competition from other marine animals.