Antonio Pigafetta's Animalia

Strange sea creatures attacking a galleon from Olaus Magnus Map --1539 Carta Marina

Many 16th-century maps of the oceans teemed with fantastical figures and tales of monstrous creatures. The prevailing mindset of the era remained shackled by the superstitions and legends of the Middle Ages, struggling to embrace a more scientific worldview. Antonio Pigafetta's chronicles of Ferdinand Magellan's voyage, however, included fascinating zoological entries documenting creatures that were still largely unknown to Europeans.

While traversing the equator in October-November 1519, en route to the Americas, Pigafetta encountered a marvel of the deep:

"During the calm, large fish called 'Tiburoni' (sharks) approached the ships. These formidable creatures possess teeth capable of inflicting horrific wounds, and they readily devour any unfortunate soul who falls overboard, dead or alive. The sailors employed iron hooks, known as 'hamc,' to capture these beasts. While some were successfully caught, their flesh proved to be unpalatable, especially the larger specimens."

Magellan's expedition to the Moluccas predated Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle by three centuries. Yet, Pigafetta's detailed accounts of the diverse fauna encountered by the armada reveal a burgeoning scientific curiosity, a keen interest in the flora and fauna of these newly discovered lands. Despite the limitations of 16th-century scientific understanding, Pigafetta's observations demonstrate a remarkable spirit of exploration, one that arguably prefigures Darwin's groundbreaking work.

In the spring of 1520, the armada encountered a peculiar flightless bird that Pigafetta initially described as a type of goose ("oche"). This creature, later identified as a penguin species inhabiting Patagonia, became the first documented encounter with these fascinating birds. The honor of their scientific name, "Spheniscus magellanicus" (Magellanic penguin), commemorates Magellan's expedition. Pigafetta's description reads:

"Continuing our southward journey along the coast, we stumbled upon two islands teeming with geese, goslings, and sea lions. The sheer abundance of these geese defied estimation; within an hour, we had filled all five ships with their bounty. These flightless birds, adorned with sleek black feathers, subsist on a diet of fish. Due to their remarkable fat content, we opted to skin them rather than engage in the time-consuming process of plucking."

Then in the same entry Pigafetta describes sea mammals:

"The sea wolves (sea lions) of these two islands are of many colors, and of the size and thickness of a calf, and have a head like that of a calf, and the ears small and round. They have large teeth, and have no legs, but feet joining close on to the body, which resemble a human hand; they have small nails to their feet, and skin between the fingers like geese. If these animals could run they would be very bad and cruel, but they do not stir from the water, and swim and live upon fish."

The armada spent a substantial period, nearly a year (January-November 1520), exploring the Argentine coastline, extending down to Patagonia. This extended stay witnessed a multitude of events: the mutiny in April, resulting in the execution of Quesada and the marooning of Juan de Cartagena; the desertion of the San Antonio, which returned to Spain; the encounter with the legendary Patagonian giants; and the discovery of the strait that now bears Magellan's name. But beyond these historical events, Pigafetta's chronicles unveil a zoological marvel.

Reading Pigafetta's accounts evokes a sense of wonder and exploration akin to that experienced by Jacques Cousteau and his crew aboard the Calypso. These chronicles transport us back to a bygone era, offering a captivating glimpse into the 16th-century "zeitgeist" of sailors and intrepid explorers.

 Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)