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The species Great Auk is extinct. |
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- Pinguinus impennis
Identification
Extinct. It was a large, flightless black-and-white auk that stood 75-85cm high and somewhat resembled a large Razorbill in appearance.
Distribution
The Great Auk occured in islands off Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Ireland and Britain. There is some evidence to suggest some may have wintered as far south as Florida.
The last population were found on Geirfuglasker off Iceland, and the last pair with eggs killed in July 1844. A last accepted sighting of a single bird was off Newfoundland in 1852.
Taxonomy
This was a monotypic species[1].
Analysis of mtDNA sequences, as well as morphological and biogeographical analysis, suggest the Great Auk's closest relative to be the Razorbill. It has sometimes been placed in the genus Alca, but most authorities agree on its own genus Pinguinus
