An ‛Aukward’ Tale: A Genetic Approach to Discover the Whereabouts of the Last Great Auks

• Published in: Genes
• Main Authors: Jessica E. Thomas, Gary R. Carvalho, James Haile, Michael D. Martin, Jose A. Samaniego Castruita, Jonas Niemann, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Marcela Sandoval-Velasco, Nicolas J. Rawlence, Errol Fuller, Jon Fjeldså, Michael Hofreiter, John R. Stewart, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Michael Knapp
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017
• Subjects: ancient DNA; extinct birds; mitochondrial genome; museum specimens; palaeogenomics; Genetics; QH426-470; Oldenburg; Fuller; Great auk; Pinguinus impennis
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes8060164; https://doaj.org/article/fb9c0eb61e004930b0156671db75d313

One hundred and seventy-three years ago, the last two Great Auks, Pinguinus impennis, ever reliably seen were killed. Their internal organs can be found in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, but the location of their skins has remained a mystery. In 1999, Great Auk expert Erro...