Why is Penguin Tux the mascot of Linux?

Apple's logo is a bite of an apple, and Microsoft's logo is a window (at least initially). Why is the mascot of Linux a penguin? Why is it called Tux? Why is it just a mascot, not a logo?

Tux was written by Larry Ewing in 1996, on the advice of Linus Torvalds and Alan Cox, as explained by Wikipedia. But history is always more complicated than it seems. We know that most of the discussion was done through mailing lists. In 1996, the Linux kernel was in the midst of a busy development, with the most famous leaders being Linus Torvalds (founder) and Alan Cox (second rank). Developers want a Linux logo to face windows. Many people are talking about sharks, or other things that are as strong as BSD elves. But Torvalds put forward the idea of penguins, the original is:
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Re:linux Logo
Linus Torvalds ([email protected])
Sun, May 1996 09:39:19 +0300 (DST)
.
Umm. You don ' t has any gap-to-fill in.
"Linus likes Penguins". That ' s it. There was even a headline on it in some Linux Journal some time ago (I am bitten by a Killer Penguin in Australia-i ' m n OT kidding). Penguins is fun.
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In fact, Torvalds was only lightly bitten by a little penguin at the Australian National Zoo, but the idea was raised.

He is also likely to be influenced by a short film, "Creature Comforts", in which there is a similar penguin.

In explaining the reason, the initiator says:
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All the other logos were too boring-i wasn ' t looking for the
"Linux Corporate Image", I was looking for something _fun_ and
Sympathetic to associate with Linux. A slightly fat penguin that sits
Had a great meal fits the bill perfectly.
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Many logos were produced at the time, and in fact, Tux did not win other logos. So, it is a mascot (mascot), but not the logo (logo).

In 1996, Larry Ewing created this lovely penguin with GIMP. This picture complies with GNU, source files can be found on the author's blog.
http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/linux/

Since then, Linux developers have started using the new mascot. The most famous signatures scattered throughout the Web are from David Navarro:

.-.
/V L I N U X
>phear the penguin<
/( )
^^-^^

and Paul Gray:

-O)
/Message void if Penguin violated
__v Don ' t mess with the Penguin

and the name tux from James Hughes:
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Re:let ' s name the penguin! (Was:Re:Linux 2.0 really _is_ released ...)
.
James Hughes ([email protected])
Mon, June 1996 20:25:52-0400
.
(T) orvalds (U) ni (X)--tux!
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Initially, Tux did not receive the desired admiration. After all, Torvalds is using a fat penguin to compete with Microsoft, the strongest company of its time. Moreover Tux did not win in the marking competition. But Tux eventually found his place near the beast, or thanks to Torvalds:
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"Some people have told me they don ' t think a fat penguin really
Embodies the grace of Linux, which just tells me they have never seen
A angry penguin charging at them in excess of 100mph. They ' d be a
Lot more careful on what they say if they had. "
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In the 2009, Tux was even replaced by Tuz, a Tasmanian man who was a carnivorous, sack-eating animal protesting against the extinction it faced. The Tuz was designed by Andrew McGown and Josh Brush and exhibited at the Linux.au.conf Convention.


Although it seems that everything is not so important now, there is a complete story behind Tux. From its origins to its spread are the result of coordinated developers. We can experience the manifested tux from the SuperTux and SuperTuxKart games.

Why is Penguin Tux the mascot of Linux?