Animal of the Day!
Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
(Photo from Smithsonian Magazine)
Extinction Date- 1681
Habitat- Island of Mauritius
Size (Weight/Length)- 22 kg; 90 cm tall
Diet- Fruits; Nuts; Roots; Seeds
Cool Facts- As dodos went extinct in the 1600’s, we only know what they look like from incomplete skeletons and illustrations. These large birds were found only on the tiny Island of Mauritius off the coast of Madagascar. Little is known about their behavior but their skeletons imply they could run extremely fast despite being unable to fly. Their large beak may have been used in territorial displays due to the Island’s limited resources. They were primarily vegetarians but would occasionally eat a crab or shellfish. People first visited the Island of Mauritius in 1507 and the dodos were quickly hunted by people and invasive species alike due to their flightless and fearless behavior. Today, the near threatened Nicobar pigeon is their closest relative. Cracking down on the illegal pet trade and their illegal poaching has resulted in the Nicobar pigeon doing much better than their long since passed relative.
Rating- 13/10 (Dodos were originally thought to be a myth and extinction to be propaganda.)
