Great auk

## Pinguinus

*Pinguinus*, or the great auk, is an extinct genus of flightless alcid that lived in the Atlantic ocean on the coastlines of Canada, Spain, Norway, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Ireland and Britain.

## Description

Unlike every other alcid, the great auk was flightless and much larger than any other surviving member. Penguins of today are named after the genus name *Pinguinus* by sailor because of their resemblance and colour schemes. Despite the resemblance, penguins are not closely related to the great auk.

## Extinction

   During the time the great auk lived, a Little Ice Age occurred, exposing their rocky breeding islands to polar bears, reducing the population a substantial amount. However, human activities were among the largest threats to great auk populations, likely the primary factor. Most hunted great auks for their feathery down. By the mid sixteenth century, nearly every nesting colony along the European side of the Atlantic ocean had disappeared. Analysis suggest humans hunted *Penguinus* for its soft feathery coat to make pillows. In 1553, the great auk was given protection, and by 1794, Britain banned the killing of the species for its hide. Though anyone who killed a great auk for its fur were publicly flogged in St. John's, however the flesh used for fishing bait was still permitted. On the North American side, pelt hunters preferred eiders, but as they gradually became endangered, swapped to hunting great auks in the 1770s. By 1880, great auks had gone from Funk Island. In an account by Aaron Thomas of HMS Boston, they describe the systematic slaughter of the birds in 1794 leading to their extinction on the island:

—Aaron Thomas (The Great Auk: The Extinction of the Original Penguin, page 34, Errol Fuller)

This worked, as the hunting of the great auk for meat, bait, fur and oil slowed, but the killing continued for other reasons. Since the birds layed eggs rarely, rich European collectors searched for individuals who sold them. Eggers, individuals who raided nests in search of eggs, quickly realized the birds did not lay all their eggs at once. Because o such, they would often return to the same colonies. As populations fell, museums killed great auks for their skin to preserve for exhibits On an islet, Stac an Armin in July of 1840, the last great auk that inhabited Britain was killed after spotted by three men. They caught a "garefowl", identifying it by its stubby wings and the large white spots atop its head, the men tied up the bird and kept it alive for three days straight. When a large storm arises, the men think the bird is a witch who created the storm, and beat it to death with sticks.

The last known colony of great auks lived on an islet named Geirfuglasker ("Great Auk Rock") offshore from Iceland. The small formation is comprised of volcanic rock, surrounded by cliffsides making it inaccessible to humans. However, in 1830 the islet submerged due to volcanic activity, and the birds migrated to the nearby island of Eldey, which was accessible from one side. When the colony was discovered in 1835, nearly 50 birds lived there. Museums quickly began to desire skins for display, and quickly began to harvest birds from the island.

The last pair was killed on June 3rd, 1844 by two men, requested by a merchant in need of specimens. The merchant found a great auk pair incubating an egg. The birds were strangled by Jón Brandsson and Sigurður Ísleifsson while Ketill Ketilsson crushed the last egg under his boot. Auk specialist John Wolley interviewed Ísleifsson about the extinction of the auks. He had this to say:

—Sigurður Ísleifsson (The Great Auk pages 82-83, Errol Fuller)
Since then, an individual was claimed spotted in 1852 at the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. This has been accepted by the IUCN. Discussions about whether the great auk can be cloned from preserved material. This is incredibly controversial.

## Distribution

The great auk lived in the Atlantic Ocean, Canada, Spain, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Ireland and Great Britain coastlines. Great auks lived like penguins, catching fish in water, then swimming back to land to eat their food.

## Synonyms

* *Alca impennis*
* *Plautus impennis*
* *Pingouin impennis*
* *Chenalopex impennis*
* *Mataeoptera impennis*