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  Profile

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  In flight

Ghosts of the Past

Dodo

Raphus cucullatus

• mythic
• 5 km/h
• Extinct

Gone since 1662 but never forgotten. The slowest, most lovable ghost courier.

Population

0 — extinct; no individuals remain (species declared extinct between 1662 and 1693)

Habitat

Dry lowland forests on the drier coastal areas of south/west Mauritius, dominated by native vegetation such as Sideroxylon grandiflorum and Pandanus species; some evidence it also occurred in upland areas

Fun fact

The dodo was flightless with only small vestigial wings; the last recorded live dodo in captivity was reportedly shipped to Nagasaki, Japan in 1647.

Range

Endemic to the island of Mauritius, Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Diet

Fallen fruits, nuts, seeds, bulbs, and roots (used gizzard stones to aid digestion); possibly supplemented with crabs, shellfish, and land snails

Size

0.7 m

Lifespan

21 years