
Dodo
Raphus cucullatus
Resurrected on:
7 jul. 2019
Genus information
The dodo is one of the most famous extinct animals that ever lived on our planet, but there are many uncertainties about this plump and flightless relative of the modern-day pigeons. The bird stood about a meter high and had a huge bill. It probably used this bill to fight rivals, because fractures in bones have been discovered. The dodo had very small wings and couldn’t fly, but research showed that the wings weren’t vestigial and probably used for balance and display. Apparently, these birds were fast and able to manoeuvre very efficient through the forests. The name “dodo” is thought to be derived from its sound, being described as “doo-doo”.
Family:
Distribution:
Epoch:
Columbidae
Mauritius (East of Madagascar)
Holocene
Species information
The dodo is placed in the family of the modern-day pigeons, but has its own subfamily. He shares it with another dodo-like species, the Rodrigues Solitaire, but both have their own genus. The closest living relative of both species is the Nicobar pigeon, found on the islands of Nicobar near India.
Species:
Paleontologist:
Distribution:
Epoch:
Raphus cucullatus
Brisson, 1760
Mauritius (East of Madagascar)
Holocene
Length:
Height:
Weight:
1.0 m
70 cm
15 kg
Reference:
Livezey, B. C. (1993). An ecomorphological review of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) and solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria), flightless Columbiformes of the Mascarene Islands. Journal of Zoology, 230(2), 247-292.

Size comparison

Distribution map
