The Dodo was a large flightless bird related to the pigeons. It was native to the island of Mauritius, which lies about 800 km west of Madagascar. Dodos were discovered in 1598 by a Dutch sailing fleet and less than a century later, sometime between 1662 and 1681 they became extinct.
Adult Dodos were hunted for food, but the major threat was to the chicks and eggs which were eaten or trampled by the rats, cats, pigs and goats that were introduced to the once mammal-free island.
Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
Collection Information
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