It is widely reported that the name was derived from Torvalds UniX, not fact that penguins look vaguely like they are wearing a tuxedo.
The original design for Tux was done by [Larry Ewing]? in 1996 using GIMP, a free software art package, and he has released it under the following terms and conditions:
''Permission to use and/or modify this image is granted provided you acknowledge me lewing@isc.tamu.edu and The GIMP if someone asks.'' [[1]]
According to [Jeff Ayers]?, Linus Torvalds had a "fixation for flightless, fat waterfowl,", and Torvalds claims to have contracted penguinitis? after being gently nibbled upon by a penguin. "Penguinitis makes you stay awake at nights just thinking about penguins and feeling great love towards them.". Torvalds' supposed illness is of course a joke, but he really was bitten by a little penguin on a visit to [Philip Island]? in southern Australia.
Tux has become an icon for the Linux and Open Source community, with one British Linux user group adopting several at [Bristol Zoo]?.