Three new species of penguins revealed by DNA

Gentoo penguins -

• Observation of animal DNA has recently made it possible to distinguish several distinct species where it was thought that only one existed, according to a study published by our partner The Conversation.

• Over the past ten years, we have identified new species of giraffes, dolphins, birds, orangutans… and penguins.

• Analysis of these findings was conducted by Jane Younger, Associate Researcher in Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Bath (England).

When we talk about the discovery of new species, we imagine scientists exploring the Amazon rainforest in search of varieties of unknown insects, or digging the seabed to find mysterious crustaceans.

However, most of the last species identified were already partially known.

These "hidden" species are sometimes so similar to their counterparts that it is not obvious what distinguishes them, and it is only the differences observed in their DNA that make it possible to establish it.

It is not by traveling the world that scientists notice it, but in genetics laboratories.

Our "DNA" file

Multiplication of species

Thanks to the proliferation of genetic data, research is at the heart of a second wave of discoveries in terms of biodiversity.

Over the past ten years, researchers have identified new species of giraffes, dolphins, birds and orangutans.

And these are now three more species of penguins that my colleagues and I have distinguished.

Pygoscelis ellsworthi of the Antarctic Peninsula © Gemma Clucas

After analyzing the DNA and morphology of gentoo penguins, we were surprised to find that they are four distinct species, not just one.

The number of penguin varieties therefore drops from 18 to 21, and new discoveries seem possible.

As part of our study, we analyzed genetic differences between colonies in the Southern Ocean, notably in the Falklands, South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and the Kerguelen Archipelago.

We found that gentoo penguins in these four territories do not breed with each other and therefore differentiated genetically, so a penguin's origin can only be determined from its DNA.

Morphological and genetic differences

We did not expect such a finding, as there is evidence that other penguin species - such as the king penguin, whose range overlaps that of the gentoo penguin - sometimes mate with specimens of colonies established some 7,500 km away on the open sea. In fact, the degree of genetic divergence between these four colonies is so great that they can be considered to evolve independently of one another.

The Falklands Pygoscelis papua © Gemma Clucas

At first glance, the four types of penguins look very similar.

However, when we measure the size of their skulls, beaks, fins and legs, we see real differences, with specimens from the Antarctic Peninsula being the smallest and those from the Falklands the largest.

These morphological and genetic differences are large enough that the gentoo penguin (

) is now distinguished into

from the Falkland Islands,

from the Antarctic Peninsula,

from South Georgia and _ P. taeniata from the Kerguelen .

A subdivision with important consequences

Each of these species evolves under very different environmental conditions and at very different latitudes.

The

lives on the Antarctic Peninsula, cold and ice, at a latitude of about 65 ° south, which contrasts sharply with the more clement conditions enjoyed by the _P.

taeniata, at 49 ° south.

The four species also have a different diet, knowing that those which are established further south consume more krill and less fish.

P. poncetii from South Georgia © Gemma Clucas

We must now understand how the four species have adapted to their habitat, and how they are likely to react to future climate changes.

Our "Animals" file

The subdivision of gentoo penguins into distinct species has important consequences in terms of protection.

These animals are classified in the category of “least threatened” species of the International Union for the Protection of Nature.

The total number of individuals has also increased over the last ten years, and it is estimated that this is the species of penguin that could benefit the most from climate change, this phenomenon being likely to allow it to extend its territory to the south.

Same origins but different destinies

However, the increase in numbers mainly concerns one of the new species listed,

from the Antarctic Peninsula.

Knowing that no population census has been carried out in South Georgia or in the Kerguelen archipelago since the 1980s, it is impossible to comment on the status of

and

.

P. ellsworthi from the Antarctic Peninsula © Gemma Clucas

Given their location on isolated islands off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, there is no doubt that the effects of climate change are not all the same for these two species, and that they are more endangered than the

.

In view of the disruption observed in the Southern Ocean, it is therefore necessary to urgently review the protection status of all gentoo penguin species.

Extinctions due to climate change and habitat reduction are occurring at an absolutely alarming rate.

The discovery of three new species of penguins, which are undoubtedly among the most popular animals in the world, shows how little we still know about the tremendous diversity of living things on our planet.

We must therefore continue our efforts to identify new species in order to best ensure the preservation of biodiversity for future generations.

Otherwise, we risk allowing species to disappear that we did not even know existed.

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This analysis was written by Jane Younger, research associate in biology and biochemistry at the University of Bath (England), and translated by Damien Allo (for FastForWord)

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• DNA