dodó

The dodó, commonly known as the dodo (Raphus cucullatus), was a flightless bird that inhabited the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The name dodó is a variation used in some languages; the scientific name is Raphus cucullatus. It became extinct in the late 17th century, within a century of its discovery by humans.

The dodo stood about 1 meter tall and weighed roughly 10–20 kilograms. It had greyish-brown plumage, a large head with a short neck, and a bulky body supported by strong legs. Its wings were small and likely incapable of flight. A large, hooked beak that was pale yellow to orange and a possible crest on the head completed its distinctive appearance.

Ecology and behavior: The dodo is believed to have been a ground-dwelling herbivore or frugivore, feeding on fruit, seeds, nuts, and roots found on Mauritius. It nested on the ground, laying a single egg, and it is likely that both parents cared for the young. Knowledge of its behavior and appearance comes mainly from subfossil bones and contemporary accounts from sailors and explorers, supplemented by later reconstructions.

Decline and extinction: European sailors first documented the species in the late 1590s. A combination of overhunting, introduced predators such as rats, pigs, and dogs, and habitat disturbance led to a rapid decline. The dodo is generally regarded as extinct by the end of the 17th century, with the last widely accepted sightings around 1681.

Legacy: The dodo has become a symbol of human-driven extinction and environmental change. It appears in culture, literature, and museum exhibitions as a case study in conservation biology.