Here's something super interesting I learnt today.
Turns out we have been lied since forever! Even for simple things, like penguins.
Yes penguins. They are actually all dead. Yes, penguins don't exist any more. It's all lies!
So, here's the thing.
Since 1871, the Latin word Pinguinus has been used in scientific classification for the genus of an animal known as the great Auk, aka Pinguinus impennis.
And it looked something like this:
Looks like a penguin if you ask me 馃槃
Long story short, the great Auk is no longer with us as it has gone extinct since the mid-19th century thanks to human related activities, including hunting.
The birds we call today penguins were discovered later and sailors called them that way due to their similar looks.
However, they do not belong in the genus Pinguinus, not even the same family. And hence not related to auks let alone the great Auk.
And that's pretty much why what we refer to penguins today.. Is nothing but a penguin 馃惂馃檭
References
