The **dodo** (scientific name: *Raphus cucullatus*) was a large, flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It became extinct in the late 17th century, primarily due to human activity. Here's more detailed information about the dodo:

### Physical Characteristics:

- **Size:** Dodos stood about 3 feet (1 meter) tall and are estimated to have weighed between 23 and 39 pounds (10 to 18 kg).

- **Appearance:** They had a large, bulky body, a big hooked beak, small wings, and stout legs. Their plumage was greyish-brown with white feathers on the tail.

- **Flightlessness:** The dodo was flightless due to its short wings and large body, having evolved without any natural predators on Mauritius.

### Habitat:

- **Location:** The dodo was endemic to Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar.

- **Lifestyle:** The dodo lived in forests and fed on fruits, seeds, nuts, and possibly small land animals. They likely nested on the ground.

### Extinction:

- **Human Impact:** Dutch sailors discovered Mauritius in the late 1500s, and the dodo was first documented in 1598. Humans hunted the dodo for food, though its meat was reportedly tough and not particularly tasty.

- **Invasive Species:** The introduction of animals like pigs, rats, and monkeys by sailors played a large role in the dodo's extinction, as these animals destroyed dodo nests and competed for food.

- **Last Sightings:** The dodo became extinct by around 1681, less than a century after it was first recorded.

### Legacy:

- **Symbol of Extinction:** The dodo has become a symbol of human-caused extinction and is often cited in discussions about conservation.

- **Cultural Impact:** The bird gained popular recognition through literature, most notably appearing in Lewis Carroll's *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*, where the character of the dodo is used as a caricature.

### Fossil Discoveries:

- Though no complete dodo specimens exist today, numerous dodo bones have been discovered, allowing scientists to reconstruct its skeleton and gain insights into its biology.

The dodo's story is a cautionary tale about the fragility of ecosystems and the consequences of human interference in isolated environmen#DOdoEmpersememeissuance