![]() ![]() Over time, dodos' wings became shortened and they lost the ability to fly. Eating lots of low-lying food - dodos had an omnivorous diet of fish, seeds and fruit - made them plump and also removed the evolutionary imperative to fly. Because they lived without fear of attack, dodos had no reason to fear people and sometimes approached them. But many explorers' accounts of the birds as stupid or clumsy are colored by the fact that dodos had no natural predators on Mauritius. Beth Shapiro, a scientist at Oxford University, told National Geographic that "dodos were essentially fat pigeons". Instead they were thinner and more proportionate to other birds, though their short legs may have made their bodies seem larger than they were. Recent analyses show that, contrary to common belief, dodos probably weren't excessively fat, round birds. Their feathers varied from white to shades of gray and black, and they had a large beak that was almost swollen in appearance. Living in the forests of Mauritius, dodos grew to about one meter (three feet, three inches) in length and weighed up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Dutch and Portuguese explorers discovered dodos in 1598, and the bird went extinct about 80 years later. This find raises the question: Could scientists resurrect the dodo bird?įirst, let's get to know the dodo, an animal that continues to live quite a life in popular culture and our lexicon, even after its extinction more than 300 years ago. The new skeleton may reveal even more information about the dodo, including a more complete version of the animal's genetic code. The study revealed that dodos are related to many types of pigeons and doves. That sample allowed scientists to determine the bird's relationship with other birds. The only other dodo DNA came from a 15th-century skeleton brought to Britain from Mauritius. Many dodo bones have been discovered in Mauritius' swamps, but the swamp environment has a corrosive effect on the bones. The new dodo skeleton is particularly exciting because it was found in a cave, which helped to preserve the specimen and, scientists hope, its DNA. The find, which was kept secret for several weeks while the site was examined and the skeleton collected, may provide valuable DNA samples. It appears complete and is one of only two of the extinct bird that's been unearthed. ![]() In early July 2007, scientists working on the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar off of the coast of Africa, announced the discovery of the best preserved dodo skeleton ever found. The dodo - an extinct bird made famous in traveling exhibitions and works of fiction - may be ready for a comeback. Bird Image Gallery Associated Press The 2007 discovery of a complete dodo skeleton may reveal valuable information about the extinct bird. ![]()
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