The dodo was a large flightless bird which used to inhabit the island of Mauritius.

History

●   1507 – Portuguese ships transporting 1

stopped at the island to collect food and water.

●   1638 – The Dutch established a 2

on the island.

●   They killed the dodo birds for their meat.

●   The last one was killed in 1681.

Description

●   The only record we have is written descriptions and pictures (possibly unreliable).

●   A Dutch painting suggests the dodo was very 3

.

●   The only remaining soft tissue is a dried 4

.

●   Recent studies of a dodo skeleton suggest the birds were capable of rapid 5

.

●   It’s thought they were able to use their small wings to maintain 6

.

●   Their 7

was of average size.

●   Their sense of 8

enabled them to find food.

Reasons for extinction

●   Hunting was probably not the main cause.

●   Sailors brought dogs and monkeys.

●   9

also escaped onto the island and ate the birds’ eggs.

●   The arrival of farming meant the 10

was destroyed.