Dodo birds more clever than we thought
The Mauritian dodo—a global symbol of human-caused extinction and one of the world's largest pigeons—may not have deserved its reputation as a silly simpleton and may have been the only member of its group to live in the dark.
The dodo bird, once considered a simpleton due to its trusting nature that led to its extinction, may have been more intelligent than previously thought. An international study led by the University of Lethbridge in Canada has revealed that the dodo's brain was not smaller than expected for its large size. The research team also found several skull and brain traits typically found in birds active during dusk or night.
These findings suggest that the dodo might have been active at dawn, dusk, or nighttime, making it the only nocturnal pigeon in the world. This adaptation could have provided the dodo with an advantage over other daytime-active species on Mauritius, such as turtles. The dodo's large eyes and reduced optic lobes indicate an adaptation to low-light conditions.
Additionally, the team suspects that the dodo relied more on its sense of smell, as the area of the brain related to smell was quite large. This unique combination of traits suggests that the dodo was not as dim-witted as its reputation as a silly or confused bird might imply.
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