Dodo

Dodo Temporal range: Late Holocene
Skeleton and model of a Dodo
Dodo skeleton cast and model based on modern research, at Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Conservation status
Extinct  (about 1662)  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Superorder:	Columbimorphae
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Subfamily:	Raphinae
Tribe:	Raphini
Genus:	†Raphus Brisson, 1760
Species:	†R. cucullatus
Binomial name
Raphus cucullatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
File:Mauritius island location.svg
Former range (area in blue)
Synonyms
Struthio cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758 Didus ineptus Linnaeus, 1766

The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Its closest genetic relative was the also extinct Rodrigues Solitaire, the two forming the subfamily Raphinae of the family of pigeons and doves. The closest living relative of the Dodo is the Nicobar Pigeon. A white Dodo was once incorrectly thought to have existed on the nearby island of Réunion.

Plaster cast of the dried Oxford head and London foot of a Dodo bird at the Booth Museum of Natural History.

Other names

Description

Similar species

Behaviour

Diet

Calls

Reproduction

Distribution/habitat

References

External links

Projects
This article is part of Project Aves, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird, including made-up species. File:Rock Pigeon.png This article is part of Project Columbiformes, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each pigeon and dove, including made-up species. This article is part of Project Monotypic Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each monotypic genera, including made-up species. This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera. This article is part of Project Extinct, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each extinct species, including made-up species.