Auk

By Ankita,Eve,Amrita and Jess

Characteristics of the Auk
● Three ft tall
● Average weight of 10lb
● Coloured like a penguin
With a white front and
Black back
● Flightless
● Only feathers on its short wings.
● Defenceless
When and where did Auks live

- Extinct since 1844

- Bred in colonies on rocky islands off the
North Atlantic coasts, Faroe Islands,
Iceland and Funk Islands
- Subfossil remains have been found as far
south as Florida, Spain and Italy.
- Last known specimens were killed in June
1844 at Eldey Island, Iceland.
 Why did Auks become extinct

● Its increasing rarity

● Hoarders collecting their extremely rare eggs
● Hunters and scavengers hunting for Auks
● Being eaten by predators like Arctic foxes and Glaucous Gulls
● Sailors and the public killing them for feathers ,meat and oils.
● Having been thought of as a supernatural existence
● great auks were killed for food and bait, in the early 1800s.
● Huge numbers were captured.
● They were often being driven up a plank
● Slaughtered on their way into the hold of a vessel.
How could the organisms have adapted to survive

● Hide their eggs in better positions

● Stay with their eggs so animals won't attack them
● Adapt to fleeing to water if there was danger
● Learn how to fish more effectively .
● Learn how to attack to defend themselves.
● Change their food diet in case of fish or food shortage.
● Stay away from humans especially hunters and collectors.
Evidence for its existence

● About 80 great auks and several of their eggs are held in museums.
● The closest living relatives are the razor-billed auks about 40 cm long.
● The last known pair of auks were killed on Eldey on July 3rd 1844.
● archaeological evidence shows that it was being eaten by Neanderthals in Europe.
● Skeletons
● Natural selection like their closest relatives breeding.
● Auk Paintings and sketches.
● Research