Top 7 Adorable Facts About Puffins - Page 5 of 9

The Latin name of the genus refers to monks

One of the most remarkable facts about puffins is that the Latin name of the genus they belong to, Fratercula, translates to “Little Brother.” Even though their beaks are often very colorful, their feathers are usually black and white, just as the robes worn by monks. The genus was first described in the year 1760 by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson.