The dodo bird had a secret sensory world scientists are only now discovering
Researchers using CT scans of a rare dodo skull have discovered new details about the bird's sensory capabilities, including a keen sense of smell and touch. These findings suggest the dodo was more active and adaptable than previously assumed.
Why it matters
New scientific insights into extinct species help refine our understanding of evolutionary biology and historical ecosystems.
Only two complete dodo skulls are known anywhere in the world. One is housed at the Natural History Museum Denmark, while the other belongs to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The Copenhagen specimen has remained in the museum's collections for centuries, and it has now played a key role in an international investigation led by researchers at the University of Lethbridge in Canada. Their goal was to explore a long-standing mystery: how did the dodo perceive and interact with the world around it?
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