For centuries, the dodo has been a symbol of foolishness, but new scientific findings suggest the extinct bird was not as unintelligent as commonly believed. Researchers have concluded that the dodo was likely as smart as modern pigeons, capable of behaviors such as recognizing human faces and solving puzzles.
Scientists reconstructed the brains of dodos using CT scans of rare, preserved skulls and compared them to those of pigeons. The study found that the region of the brain associated with cognition and memory was proportionate to the dodo's body size, similar to that of pigeons. This challenges the long-held stereotype of the dodo as a simple-minded creature.
Professor Vera Weisbecker of Flinders University, who led the research, stated that the findings suggest a reevaluation of the dodo's behavior. Instead of a clumsy forager, the dodo may have been active during twilight hours, navigating the forests of Mauritius with intelligence comparable to its living relatives. The research indicates the dodo's trusting nature, which contributed to its downfall, likely stemmed from evolving on an island without natural predators.
"Our findings challenge the longstanding stereotype of the dodo as a clumsy, foolish daytime forager," Weisbecker wrote. "Instead, we may need to picture it navigating the dim Mauritian forests at sunrise or sunset and behaving with the same level of intelligence as its living pigeon relatives."
The study also uncovered potential evidence that the dodo may have been active at dawn, dusk, or even at night, which would make it the only nocturnal pigeon species. This theory is supported by the bird's relatively large eyes combined with unusually small optic lobes, a characteristic seen in some nocturnal birds.
The dodo, scientifically known as Raphus cucullatus, was a flightless bird that inhabited Mauritius. It stood about three feet tall and weighed between 23 and 39 pounds. The species went extinct in the late 17th century, primarily due to the arrival of humans who hunted the birds and introduced invasive animals that preyed on their eggs. Having evolved without predators, the dodo exhibited a lack of fear towards humans, which ultimately made it easy prey.
Efforts are underway by companies like Colossal Biosciences to potentially revive the dodo through de-extinction technologies. These projects involve genetic editing and interspecies egg-laying to recreate the bird, with the ultimate goal of reintroducing it to Mauritius. However, the feasibility and authenticity of creating a true dodo remain subjects of scientific discussion.
