Although the dodo became extinct in 1690, this bird was more complex than you would realize.

Dodos were odd birds. According to popular belief, the name "dodo" derives from the Dutch word "dodoor," which means lethargic. But after examining its anatomy, scientists believe it was capable of running quickly.

The dodo, however, was not swift enough to escape its fate. The dodo was ready to believe the human settlers who came to its island because it was living on an island without predators and this led to its eventual extinction. Here are five additional facts about the dodo that you might not be aware of.

1 Weird Appearance

Dodos, which descended from Asian pigeons, lived on the Indian island of Mauritius. It had a massive head, a big hooked-tipped bill, and short legs. It weighed roughly 50 pounds. Most notably, their pectoral muscles weren't powerful enough to fly, and their wings were too short. Most likely, evolutionary biology is what led to this.

Dodos evolved to become larger and lost their capacity to fly since they were no longer need to use flight to flee from predators. Ostriches and penguins are two more birds that once flew but have since lost their ability to do so.

2 Reproduction

Despite the fact that many birds lay multiple eggs at once, it has been assumed based on eyewitness accounts that a female dodo would only lay one egg at a time. They would construct their nests on the ground and encircle them with grass as they were incapable of flying.

Up until 1638, when Dutch settlers began to arrive in Mauritius, the dodo population was thriving. The dodo population never rebounded once people moved in and started killing them; finally, they became extinct.

3 Extinction

The dodo had all the food it needed to survive, thrive, and live in safety in Mauritius for many years. As was previously said, that is, until a Dutch settlement arrived up. Contrary to common perception, settlers didn't enjoy the taste of the dodo bird, and their consumption did not cause the dodo population to decline.

Rats, monkeys, dogs, sheep, and pigs were just a few of the creatures the immigrants brought with them that decimated the dodo population. While humans harmed the trees where the dodos resided, these animals destroyed nests and ate the eggs. Although experts put the period as late as 1690 in 2013, the generally accepted extinction date is 1662.

4 They Weren't Stupid

"Ignorant," "dummy," "moron," and "dull" are a few synonyms for "dodo." However, dodos were not naive. Their brain-to-body ratio, according to research, indicates that they are of average intelligence. Dodos also have a big olfactory bulb, which improved their sense of smell. Birds usually rely on vision, thus this is rare for them.

5 Researchers May Try To Bring Them Back

Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary researcher, explores isolated areas in search of fossils from which to extract the DNA of extinct species. Her research has primarily concentrated on the dodo among other animals. She stated that the dodo had been fully sequenced earlier this year, albeit the results had not yet been made public. She has shown interest in the prospect of reviving the dodo.

According to her in an interview with Smithsonian Magazine, "if the dodo were to be brought back, it could be restored to protected habitats on [the island nation of] Mauritius, where people could go to observe dodos in their native habitat."