koty: Dodo

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The dodo's closest relative was the also-extinct and flightless Rodrigues solitaire. The two formed the subtribe Raphina, a clade of extinct flightless birds that are a part of the group that includes pigeons and doves (the family Columbidae). The closest living relative of the dodo is the Nicobar pigeon. A white dodo was once thought to have existed on the nearby island of Réunion, but it is now believed that this assumption was merely confusion based on the also-extinct Réunion ibis and paintings of white dodos. Subfossil remains show the dodo measure…

Evidence: 66 • authority: 72

Evidence: 66 • authority: 72

The Réunion ibis or Réunion sacred ibis (Threskiornis solitarius) is an extinct species of ibis that was endemic to the volcanic island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The first subfossil remains were found in 1974, and the ibis was first scientifically described in 1987. Its closest relatives are the Malagasy sacred ibis, the African sacred ibis, and the straw-necked ibis. Travellers' accounts from the 17th and 18th centuries described a white bird on Réunion that flew with difficulty and preferred solitude, which was subsequently referred to as the "Réunion solitaire". In the mid 19th century the old travellers' accounts were incorrectly assumed to refer to white relatives of the dodo. Th…

Evidence: 42 • authority: 72

The Mascarene teal (Anas theodori), also known as the Mauritius duck and Sauzier's teal, is an extinct species of duck that lived on the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Réunion. A small duck was mentioned in 17th century accounts from these islands which is thought to be this species, and it may also be depicted in one illustration. In 1893, various bones from the Mare aux Songes swamp of Mauritius were used to name a new species in the duck genus Anas, A. theodori, after Théodore Sauzier who directed the excavations. Additional remains from Réunion were considered to belong to the same species in 1999, and it was determined to be related to the Sunda teal of the Indian Ocean. The Mascar…

Evidence: 42 • authority: 88

Evidence: 42 • authority: 88

Evidence: 42 • authority: 72

Evidence: 42 • authority: 72

The Rodrigues solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Rodrigues, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. A member of the family of pigeons and doves, it was most closely related to the also extinct dodo of the nearby island Mauritius, the two forming the subfamily Raphinae. The Nicobar pigeon is their closest living genetic relative. Rodrigues solitaires grew to the size of swans, and demonstrated pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males were much larger than females and measured up to 75.7–90 centimetres (30–35 inches) in height and 28 kilograms (62 pounds) in weight, contrasting with 63.8–70 centimetres (25–28 in) and 17 kilograms (37 lb)…