Posted on May 9, 2017 . As the dodo bird population went away, other forms of life on the island of Mauritius were also affected. (Photo Credit : Abu Shawka/Wikimedia Commons). Their eggs and chicks were also easy prey to the animals introduced to the island by the sailors. Like many other island birds, they lost the power of flight because it was no advantage where they lived. He is a tech aficionado who loves to explicate on wide range of subjects from applied and interdisciplinary sciences like Engineering, Technology, FinTech, Pharmacy, Psychology and Economics. Scientists believe that the present day Nicobar pigeon is the closest cousin of dodo bird. It had blue-gray plumage, a big head, a 23-cm (9-inch) blackish bill with reddish sheath forming the hooked tip, small useless wings, stout yellow legs, and a tuft of curly feathers high on its rear end. Of the 45 bird species originally found on Mauritius, only 21 have managed to survive. We have to rely on old pictures and the few bones and skins we have left - like the ones we have on display in the Museum. It was originally mistaken as a close relative of several different birds, including the albatross, the vulture, and the ostrich. The Dodo Bird – also known as Raphus cucullatus – is an extinct and flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius. Of the 45 bird species originally found on Mauritius, only 21 have managed to survive. The closest living relative of the dodo is the Nicobar pigeon. It's up to you to make a plan for their survival. The dodo used to live near Madagascar off the coast of Indian Ocean around 300 years ago. Dodos also had a long beak—around 8 inches in length—with a hook-shaped tip that fit their eating patterns. Dodo Bird Facts Summary. Three species are known: the dodo (. By the 1660s, Cheke said, dodos had already gone extinct on the main island of Mauritius, and the name "dodo" had been transferred to a similar flightless species now known as a red rail. Answer by Stefan Pociask, wildlife researcher/rehabber, on Quora: The fate of the poor dodo bird is slightly misrepresented by history. But enough of the Discovery Channel stuff, you’re reading this to find out how this sucker went extinct. Share. Since there was no natural predator of the Dodo on the island of Mauritius, the bird was an easy prey for humans that arrived on the island. The dodo bird is one of the most famous examples of human-induced extinction. Further, humans introduced invasive species that outcompeted the dodo for food. It weighed in around 20 to 23 kilograms. These claims mainly come from some of the areas smaller islands which dot the ocean aro… Invasive animals introduced by humans continue to wreak havoc on ecosystems and individual species — … Release date: 13 Jun 2017. Their diet was linked to the tambalcoque tree, which in the local lexicon is called the dodo tree. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... doves, dodoes, and solitaires. It was declared officially extinct in 1681. As a result, the number of dodo birds began to decrease significantly. It was thought to become extinct as early as in the late 17 th century. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/dodo-extinct-bird, dodo - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Unabated hunting by sailors and explorers were the main reason why the dodos went extinct. They became extinct in the late 17th century. The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar.They were only found in this region, and their bodies had adapted to life there. Finally, as the explorers explored deeper into the island, the natural resources were exploited and harvested, which harmed not only the dodos, but other endemic species and plants—ultimately paving the way for the extinction of this eccentric bird. The complete isolation of this island let the Dodo Birds grow and evolve without natural predators, unfortunately to a …
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