The great auk (Pinguinus impennis), also known as the Penguin or gare-fowl, is a species of flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It is unrelated to the Penguins of the southern hemisphere, which were named so after their resemblance to the northern species.
…the auk foraged in the waters of the North Atlantic, ranging as far south as northern Spain and along the coastlines of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Ireland, and Great Britain.
Early European explorers to the Americas used the great auk as a convenient food source or as fishing bait, reducing its numbers. The bird’s down was in high demand in Europe, a factor that largely eliminated the European populations by the mid-16th century. Around the same time, nations such as Great Britain began to realize that the great auk was disappearing and it became the beneficiary of many early environmental laws, but despite that the great auk were still hunted.
Its growing rarity increased interest from European museums and private collectors in obtaining skins and eggs of the bird. On 3 June 1844, the last two confirmed specimens were killed on Eldey, off the coast of Iceland, ending the last known breeding attempt.
The word “penguin” first appears in the sixteenth century as a synonym for “great auk”.[20] Although the etymology is debated, the generic name “penguin” may be derived from the Welsh pen gwyn “white head”, either because the birds lived in New Brunswick on White Head Island (Pen Gwyn in Welsh) or because the great auk had such large white circles on its head. When European explorers discovered what today are known as penguins in the Southern Hemisphere, they noticed their similar appearance to the great auk and named them after this bird, although biologically, they are not closely related.[21]: 10
damn now I’m sad about the Great Auk. Wish I could’ve met him.
Wait until you learn about Steller’s sea cows…
I heard he was great
It was honestly interesting reading up on these creatures. It’s an absolute shame they are lost to us. Turns out there were penguins in the north after all!
We’re in the middle of a mass extinction period due to the climate catastrophe caused by human industrialization
So you can take advantage of seeing all the species that are alive now that future generations will never get to see
Sad truth. 🫤
Pinguinus
Benedict Cumberbatch has been absolved
Yeah. Turns out penguins have been extinct for almost two centuries, and what we’ve been calling penguins are a completely unrelated type of bird that just happens to look vaguely similar.
It’s not for everyone, but Penguin Island by Anatole France features great auks. I read it many years ago and enjoyed it (in a dorky 19th century satire sort of way). Not for everyone.
was hunt
Like, Helen Hunt?
Gene Hunt.
Birds are vicious.
I learned this because of Bridgerton lol
Sucks to be a small flightless bird. One cat or weasel and suddenly the whole fat dumb flightless parrot species is doomed.