8/25/2023 0 Comments Dead as a dodo meaning![]() According to the Encarta Dictionary and Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, “dodo” derives from Portuguese doudo (currently doido) meaning “fool” or “crazy.” What an unfortunate name! It is said that the bird was bulky and slow, with short wings that prevented it from flying – so not the Usain Bolt of the animal kingdom. Dodos inhabited the Island of Mauritius for millions of years isolated from humans and natural predators. It has been described as brownish/grey with yellow feet, a grey naked head and a black, yellow and green beak. From these limited fragments, a few sketches and traveller writings, we think this bird was quite large and stood up to one metre tall, weighing in at approximately 20kg. Sadly though, the dodo became extinct by the end of the 17 th century – over a short period of about 75 years – and is now a well-known icon of extinction.Īlthough we don’t know exactly what it looked like, a few fossil bones have been found for us to reimagine it. Initially it was believed to be a mythical creature like a unicorn or griffin, but in the early 19 th century it was considered to be a real creature and is now the island’s national animal. The dodo is synonymous with Mauritius as it is the only place in the world where it existed naturally. When visiting the beautiful island of Mauritius you will notice the reoccurring images and souvenirs with a strange-looking bird, the fantastical dodo bird.
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