Dodos probably weren’t as stupid as historians made them out to be: new research
Dodo skull scans show the famously extinct birds were no less brainy than their surviving relatives – and may have roamed at dusk and dawn.
The dodo, a flightless bird once native to Mauritius, has long been portrayed as a symbol of stupidity and naivety following human arrival on its home island. This image is largely attributed to popular stories like Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and the works of artists such as John Tenniel. However, new research has emerged that challenges this perception of the dodo.
A team of international scientists have delved into the dodo's brain structure using state-of-the-art CT scans, revealing that its intelligence was likely comparable to that of modern birds. The brain structure of the dodo, which is similar to that of pigeons, indicates a cognitive ability on par with its living relatives. Moreover, the dodo's vision system is notably different, with smaller optic lobes that are indicative of an adaptation for low light vision.
This suggests that the dodo may not have been strictly a daytime creature, potentially active during dawn, dusk, or even at night. This unique adaptation could be a response to competition for food resources, as Mauritius was once home to large populations of giant tortoises that would have consumed many of the same fruits and plants as the dodo.
Therefore, the dodo's nocturnal behavior might have provided it with an advantageous way to forage with reduced competition. This new understanding of the dodo's sensory and cognitive abilities paints a very different picture of this extinct bird, suggesting it was a more intelligent and adaptable species than previously believed.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
