I. Lost Not Forgotten
Dodo
Index Naturae
IN 1.45.01-A
Dodo
Raphus cucullatus
Adult portrait
I. Lost Not Forgotten
Field notes
On Mauritius, the dodo evolved from flying pigeon ancestors into a large bird of the forest floor. Evidence from bones suggests an active animal, rather than the clumsy caricature of later pictures. Fallen fruit and seeds were probably important foods.
- Former range
- Mauritius, western Indian Ocean
- Habitat
- Dry and wet forests, from coastal lowlands to uplands
Extinction
Hunting and introduced animals helped eliminate the dodo after people settled Mauritius. It vanished during the seventeenth century. Historical reports and statistical estimates do not establish the exact year in which the final bird died.
Sources & conservation context
- Natural History Museum — The dodo bird: The real facts about this icon of extinction
- Nature — When did the dodo become extinct?
Extinct — Global species status: Mauritius endemic
Source review: 6 October 2026. Assessment dates, where given, belong to the cited source.