LIMA (REUTERS).- The preserved feathers and scales of a giant fossilized penguin discovered on Peru’s central coast provide a glimpse of Peru’s Eocene period, and how the species evolved to its modern state, paleontologists say. The ancient version of the marine bird was about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and weighed almost 60 kg (132 lb), dwarfing today’s Emperor Penguin, the largest of the modern-day species. “By looking at this fossil, we were prompted to ask new questions about living penguins and the world we live in today,” said Julia Clarke, an expert in avian anatomy at the University of Texas at Austin. The paleontologists date the remains to 36 million years ago. They dubbed the ancient penguin “Inkayacu paracasensis,” which means “emperor of the water” in the indigenous language of Quechua. “Without doubt this is the most complete specimen of ancient penguins that exists,” said