What was the name of the first scientifically described fossil penguin genus?

Palaeeudyptes was the first scientifically described fossil penguin genus.

The genus Palaeeudyptes was named from fossil penguin remains found in New Zealand. Its name means “ancient good diver,” reflecting the long-recognized connection between penguins and underwater swimming.

Palaeeudyptes belonged to an extinct group of large penguins that lived during the Paleogene period. Some species in the genus were considerably larger than living penguins, illustrating that penguin evolution once produced a wide variety of body sizes.

It is easy to confuse Palaeeudyptes with Waimanu, an older-looking fossil penguin genus from New Zealand. Waimanu fossils are extremely early in penguin history, but Palaeeudyptes is generally credited with being the first fossil penguin genus formally described in the scientific literature.