Surely you have ever heard of the dodo, that fat and silly bird that died at the hands of the conquerors. We have all heard that story but we know little about this animal that lived for a long time in the Mauritius Islands long before the arrival of men.
All the data we have about the Dodo are old descriptions and some specimens in different museums around the world. There were two species, the common dodo and the white dodo, the latter inhabiting Reunion Island.
In this article on our site you will learn about the main characteristics of this animal. Why they disappeared and when was the last dodo sighted.
Characteristic
The dodo was a flightless bird endemic to the Mauritius Islands in the Indian Ocean. They were only present in this region and his body had adapted to life on these islands.
They had no natural predators so they lost the ability to fly. They adapted to terrestrial life which led to a series of changes in their anatomy. The wings were modified, becoming stunted and the tail shortened. Its most popular distant relative is the pigeon.
Its body was 1 meter tall, with plumage covering its entire body and an approximate weight of 10 kg. The plumage used to be white or greyish. The beak was elongated, about 20 cm, the hook-shaped tip is a reflection of its eating habits. Possibly they used it to break coconuts. The legs are yellow and robust, similar to those of chickens.
In all descriptions it is described as a fat, slow bird with an appetite However, it is most likely that the conquerors at seeing their docile character kept them in captivity. Under these conditions, it is most likely that they were baited and then eaten. So the fat and chubby image we have of the Dodo may not be the most accurate. The most normal thing would be for them to maintain a smaller body volume in the wild.
They nested on the ground, which was also a problem when it came to protecting the hatchlings from predators.
First sightings
The first data known in Europe about the dodo dates back to 1574. In 1581 a Spanish navigator took a copy of the dodo to Europe, it was the first time that this animal was observed in the old world.
His name means "stupid", it is believed that it was given by Portuguese navigators although its origin is not clear. Today it is known by the name of dronte (Raphus cucullatus).
Why is it extinct?
The arrival of man to the islands not only brought with it the threat of direct hunting The men broughtpigs, rats, dogs and other animals that were introduced to the island. These species were undoubtedly a determining factor in the extinction of the dodo.
Due to the docile character of these animals and their life habits, they became easy prey for these new predators. Not just adult individuals. Nesting on the ground is a huge disadvantage to predators.
As for man, it should be noted that he is the main person responsible for the extinction of this animal. The incursion into their habitat in the 17th century led to their extinction in about 1662. In less than a century the species ceased to be sighted.
Its exploitation as food and the carelessness of the men of the time led this species to its extinction. The species was only present in this region and arose as a result of isolated evolution on an island. They were not able to compete with other animals for resources that they always had.
Feathers, especially those of the white dodo, were highly prized, and these animals were also hunted for them.
Food and habitat
In Mauritius there is a dry season and a wet season. It is believed that the dodo was adapted to this situation. It accumulated fat reserves during the wet season to use during the dry.
Regarding his diet, it is believed that his diet was associated with the tambalacoque tree This tree, also known as the dodo tree, is a tree endemic to these islands and lives for a long time. Its wood is highly valued and it is believed that the dodo fed on the seeds of this tree.
Other seeds, small insects and fruits were probably their main diet, although not much has been described on the subject in the texts of the epoch.
Extinction
As we have seen, there have been several reasons that have led this bird to disappear. Not only are species becoming extinct today, the dodo is an example of an extinction that could have been prevented.
The arrival of men to the islands marked the end of the life of the dodos, animals without defensive instincts, they perished as prey to men and other animals. As their presence was restricted to a couple of islands and due to intensive hunting, they disappeared in a short time.
If humans had dispersed the species to other places, perhaps this species would still be among us. Some specimens were taken from the islands but only as isolated individuals and in many cases already dissected.
Since 1662 later testimonies of dodo sightings have been collected, however they are not reliable. They also date from a few decades after 1662. Although the species was not completely extinct, there would be very few specimens left that would disappear a few years later.
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