Human-induced Extinction of Dodo | 17 Sep 2024

Source: TH

A new study by researchers from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and others has challenged the idea that the dodo was a slow and clumsy bird.

  • The study found evidence that dodos and its sister species, the solitaire, were actually fast-moving, well-adapted forest birds.
  • Dodos went extinct primarily due to human activity and the introduction of non-native species like pigs, rats, and cats, which preyed on their eggs and chicks, rather than their perceived lack of intelligence.
  • Through DNA analysis, it has been established that the dodo belonged to the family (Columbidae) of doves and pigeons, with its closest relative being the Nicobar pigeon.
  • Dodos and Rodrigues Solitaires:
Dodos Solitaires
Scientific name Raphus cucullatus Pezophaps solitaria
Characteristics
  • It had grayish feathers and a distinctive large, hooked beak.
  • It exhibited pronounced sexual dimorphism.
  • Males had a large bony knob on the wrists.
Habitat Endemic to the island of Mauritius and lived in forests Endemic to Rodrigues island of Mauritius
Evolutionary History
  • It evolved to be flightless due to the absence of predators on Mauritius.
  • The dodo likely had strong running abilities.
Discovery and Extinction Extinct in 1681. Extinct (last confirmed in the 1760s)

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