About the Great Auk
The great auk, also known as the garefowl or penguin, is an extinct species of flightless alcid that first appeared around 400,000 years ago and became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It was not closely related to the penguins of the Southern Hemisphere, which were named for their resemblance to this species.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Auks, Murres, and Puffins (Alcidae) |
| Species | Pinguinus impennis |
| Species Codes | greauk, GRAU |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Great Auk belong to?
The Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) belongs to the Auks, Murres, and Puffins family (Alcidae), in the order Charadriiformes.
How can I identify the Great Auk?
The great auk, also known as the garefowl or penguin, is an extinct species of flightless alcid that first appeared around 400,000 years ago and became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It was not closely related to the penguins of the Southern H...
Where can I report a Great Auk sighting?
You can log sightings of Great Auk on eBird (ebird.org) using species code greauk, or on iNaturalist.
Related Species in Auks, Murres, and Puffins 25 species
More Birds in Order Charadriiformes
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