Pinguinus alfrednewtoni (SciiFii)

The Newton's auk (Pinguinus alfrednewtoni) is a species of flightless alcid that originally lived in North Carolina during the Pliocene and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the coastlines of southeastern United States and in the Gulf of Mexico to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the Newton's auk is the great auk (Pinguinus impennis). On average, the Newton's auk is slightly larger than the great auk, with the height of about 85-100 centimetres (33 to 100 inches) tall and weighing about 7 kilograms (15 pounds), making it one of the largest alcids. It has a black back and a white belly. The black beak is heavy and hooked, with grooves on its surface. During summer, the Newton's auk plumage shows a white "crown" on its head that extends over each eye. During winter, the Newton's auk auk losses this crowned coloration, instead developing a white band stretching between the eyes. The wings are only 18 cm (7 inches) long, rendering the bird flightless. Instead, the Newton's auk is a powerful swimmer, a trait that it uses in hunting. Its favourite prey includes fish, including Atlantic menhaden and capelin, and crustaceans, to name a few. Although agile in the water, it is clumsy on land. Newton's auk pairs mate for life. They nest in extremely dense and social colonies, laying one to two eggs on bare rock. The egg is white with variable brown marbling. Both parents participate in the incubation of the egg for around 6 weeks before the young hatch. The young leave the nest site after 2–3 weeks, although the parents continue to care for it. The conservation status of the Newton's auk is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the Newton's auks' wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii