They are two sea birds. Due to their black and white plumage, penguins and auks are often confused. Yet these two animals live in opposite areas of the globe. The penguin lives in the southern hemisphere and the auk inhabits the northern hemisphere. Another notable difference: unlike the auk, the penguin cannot fly. During its evolution, the marine animal has lost this faculty. According to a recent study, the wings of penguins could not have allowed them to both fly and swim efficiently. Their wings would have specialized for the aquatic world in which access to food is easier. Photo credit: Derek Oyen