Natural History: A Ceramic Model of The Great Auk ( Pinguinus impennis), dated 2010, by Karen Fawcett Studios, Newcastle, a large high quality ceramic model of the now extinct Great Auk, in swimming position with head raised, overall length 51cm, height 26cm, The great auk (Pinguinus impennis) is a species of flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It is not closely related to the birds now known as penguins, which were discovered later and so named by sailors because of their physical resemblance to the great auk.