Raphus cucullatus

• The dodo lost the ability to fly due to the absence of predators and an abundance of food, such as fallen fruits. It is believed that there were no dangerous animals on the island.
• The dodo's name is used for some genetic elements in memory of the flightless bird. In fruit flies, the gene related to flight has the same name.
• The dodo had a heavy, hooked beak that may have been used in territorial disputes. On Rodrigues Island, its relative, the Rodrigues solitaire, was more aggressive and used its wings in conflicts.
• Bioengineers first grew primary sex cells of the Nicobar pigeon, the dodo's closest relative. On September 17, a biotech startup announced this achievement.
• The dodo reached a height of about 1 meter and weighed up to 23 kg. In the wild, its weight ranged from 10.6 to 21.1 kg.
• The dodo could not fly due to skeletal features, such as thick pelvic bones and underdeveloped wings. The thoracic region and wings were paedomorphic, retaining characteristics typical of chicks.
• The exact appearance of the dodo remains unknown. Since sketches made from live specimens differ from each other, the bird's appearance cannot be determined precisely.
• The dodo used stones to help digest food. Modern sources suggest this was necessary, as its diet had to be broad enough to avoid starving during sea voyages.
• Male Mauritius dodos were larger than females and had longer beaks. The male beak reached 23 cm in length and had a hook at the end.