Dodo Had Surprisingly Keen Sense of Smell and Owl-Like Vision, New Study Reveals
New research from the University of Lethbridge suggests the extinct dodo bird possessed a keen sense of smell and owl-like vision. The study challenges historical portrayals of the bird as unintelligent, highlighting its complex sensory adaptations.
Why it matters
This research corrects long-standing misconceptions about an iconic extinct species and provides deeper insight into the evolutionary biology of island-dwelling birds.
New research led by University of Lethbridge scientists offers the most detailed look yet at how the dodo ( Raphus cucullatus ) — the flightless bird driven to extinction by the 1600s — actually perceived its world, suggesting the ‘stupid bird’ had a far more complex sensory life than its reputation implies.
The dodo ( Raphus cucullatus ) by Frederick William Frohawk, 1905.
The dodo and its close relative, the Rodrigues Solitaire ( Pezophaps solitaria ), are two of the most recognized symbols of human-caused extinction.
Yet, despite their prominence in the scientific and popular literature, little is known about their behavior.
“Few animals symbolize human impact on nature as intensely as the dodo,” said University of Lethbridge Ph.D. student Sara Citron and her colleagues.
“Endemic to Mauritius, the flightless dodo generated interest and awareness of humanity’s role in extinctions, paving the way for the emergence of conservation biology.”
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