Thursday, September 24, 2015

Podilymbus gigas

What is the Podilymbus gigas?
This is an animal known as Pato Poc or Macá de Atitlán! This bird used to thrive in the waters of the Atitlan Lake in Guatemala! Sadly this bird is now extinct! 


What is its common/usual name in Spanish and in English?
The common name in Spanish is Pato Poc! In English  it is known as the Atitlan Grebe! It's official scientific name is the Podilymbus gigas!


Where is it from?
This bird is native to Guatemala. More specifically, it is from Lake Atitlán, Sololá in Guatemala! This bird is endemic to Atitlán! That is another reason it get's some of it's most iconic names. 

Is this bird dead or alive?
It is known that it became extinct sometime between 1983 and 1986. It is concluded that this animal became extinct by the introduction of the Large-mouth bass in the lake. Also the fishing pressure and tourism in these years and the lowering waters in the lake also contributed to the extinction of this animal! 

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), what is the animal's category? Why?
Podilymbus giga!