Scientists reconstruct our past using fossil remnants. Most fossils don’t contain soft tissue, so they must “guesstimate” the fleshy parts to show us what extinct animals might have looked like. With that in mind, dinosaurs may have appeared vastly different in prehistoric times. The Oxford Dodo is an intact, mummified skull from an extinct species.
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Although the dodo bird was probably alive eons ago, it is technically not “prehistoric” because it was still alive during “historic” times. Dutch sailors discovered the dodo bird in 1598 on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. They had no predators on the island and were too trusting of humans.
The large birds were easily approachable, which may have contributed to the name of “Dodo.” The humans brought dogs and cats, which also preyed on the birds. The birds were frequently hunted as a source of fresh meat. The last recorded sighting was in 1662. It only took humans 64 years to wipe out the species.
The dodo bird’s main claim to fame is the speed with which it became extinct. This, although the result of humans, is possibly why we think dodo birds are dumb. Recent studies proclaim that the large, flightless bird may not have been as stupid as believed.
The Oxford Dodo is remarkably intact. It is the only fossil of a dodo that maintains flesh. Due to the mummification, the skull accurately depicts the dodo’s head. Scientists have used imaging equipment to picture the soft tissue and bone structure accurately. This gives us a better understanding of the birds. They might have been moderately smart.
Please share if you think we should Jurassic Park the DNA from the dodo bird.
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