How dodo became extinct

Carroll frequently visited the Oxford Museum of Natural History. Dodos have become an icon of extinction caused by human action, and act as a warning to us for the future. Was the dodo fat? Few complete dodo skeletons exist, so it is quite difficult to know exactly what they looked like. Their extinction was so rapid that they unfortunately left little trace of their existence.

Interpretations of the appearance of the dodo have varied over the centuries. While the testimonies of travelers all describe the dodo as having plumage ranging from black to dark gray, Dutch painters of the 17th century represented them with a bright plumage, perhaps confusing them with another animal on the island.

Other studies suggested that the weight depended on the season, and that individuals were fat during cool seasons, but less so during hot ones. Discover more from the weird and wonderful natural world in Cabinet of Curiosities.

Or continue your voyage into the Natural History project here. Aerial View Mauritius - Biennale Arte Dodo skeleton The Natural History Museum. The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content. Online Exhibit Dr. Online Exhibit The Milkmaid Rijksmuseum.

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Reasons for extinction: The dodo only lived on one island - Mauritius. When sailors arrived in the sixteenth century they found that the dodo was very easy to catch, and even though it didn't taste very nice, many were eaten. The dodo's natural habitat was almost completely destroyed after people started settling on Mauritius.