Dodo

Raphus cucullatus

Resurrected on:

​

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.