Great Auk
The Great Auk was a large, flightless bird native to the rocky islands of the North Atlantic. It was a close relative of the puffin and the murre.
The Great Auk was a powerful and agile swimmer and diver, and its diet consisted of a variety of fish and other marine life. It is believed to have been hunted to extinction in the mid-19th century. Its extinction is a tragic reminder of the impact of human activity on our planet's biodiversity.
Great Auk
Classification
Aves > Charadriiformes > Alcidae > Pinguinus > P. impennis
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
2.5 feet
(0.8 m)
Average Weight
11 - 15 lbs
(5 - 6.8 kg)
Average Life Span
20 - 25 years
Gestation Period
35 - 40 days
Did You Know?
The Great Auk was a large, flightless seabird native to the North Atlantic.
They were powerful swimmers and divers, using their wings to "fly" underwater in pursuit of fish.
Great Auks were hunted to extinction, with the last known pair killed in 1844.
Their eggs were also highly prized and collected, contributing to their decline.
The Great Auk is often cited as a classic example of human-induced extinction.
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