Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless, flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It belonged to the pigeon family and grew to about 3 feet tall, weighing around 10-20 kg. The dodo evolved without natural predators, leading to its inability to fly and a reliance on ground-based habits. It became extinct in the late 1600s, roughly a century after humans and introduced animals arrived, which contributed to its decline through hunting and habitat destruction. The dodo is often remembered as a symbol of extinct species and human impact on the environment.