National Geographic - USA (2020-08)

Olfactory bulb

Nicobar pigeon

Old

shape

46.3 lbs

Knee

Ankle

New

shape

22 .5 lbs

2016

June July

Greater flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Mauritius giant

domCylindraspis ineptaed tortoise

Red rail

Aphanapteryx bonasia

maged

dult feathers Common ancestor

Nicobar pigeon

Caloenas nicobarica

Rodrigues solitaire

Pezophaps solitaria

Dodo

DNA studies reveal the dodo was a Raphus cucullatus

type of pigeon related to the extinct

Rodrigues solitaire and the modern

Southeast Asian Nicobar pigeon.

of the era,
e island’s
ailable even
d for nuts,
forests.

of the era,
e island’s
ailable even
d for nuts,
forests.
Scans in 3D of a rare,
nearly intact skeleton
have shown scientists
the dodo’s true bone
structure and shape.

Scans in 3D of a rare,

nearly intact skeleton

have shown scientists

the dodo’s true bone

structure and shape.

Brain proportions suggest that dodoes,

long considered dumb, were as intelligent

as pigeons. Dodo and Rodrigues solitaire

brains also had large olfactory bulbs, sug-

gesting a keen sense of smell for finding

food. (Brain art at right is not to scale.)

Early images could have

been influenced by sea-sons or feather cycles,

with birds looking darker and thinner when molt-

ing and lighter and larger when fully feathered.

Old, worn feathers were loosened in their follicles by

the growth of new, intrud-ing feathers that eventually

pushed the old ones out.

The Rodrigues

solitaire and the giant tortoise

went extinct on Rodrigues island

a century after

the dodo did.

Smpossibly used for display all, vestigial wings were

and to help with balance.

Thick, spongy bone over

the forebrain positioned the dodo’s brain differently from

most other birds’ brains.

FAMILY TREE REVELATION

SKELETOSKELETONN FI FINNDD

SHARPER SENSES

23