The dodo was an unusual bird. It's believed that the name "dodo" stems from the Dutch word "dodoor," meaning sluggish. However, in studying its anatomy, scientists think it could have run at fast speeds.
However, the dodo was not quick enough to outrun its doom. Living on an island with no predators, the dodo was quick to trust the human settlers that made their way to its island, which eventually caused its demise. Here are five other things you may not have known about the dodo.
Dodos lived on the Indian island of Mauritius and are descendants of Asian pigeons. Weighing about 50 pounds, it sported a big head, large hooked-tipped bill and short legs. Most notably, their wings were too short and their pectoral muscles weren't strong enough to fly. This is most likely a result of evolutionary biology.
Without the need for flight to escape predators, dodos adapted ...
