Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) — a model reconstruction of the extinct bird.
Image: Jebulon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EX · Extinct
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2024 global assessment of Raphus cucullatus says ExtinctChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The dodo was a large, flightless pigeon-relative of Mauritius that was driven to extinction in the late 17th century, within decades of human arrival. It is assessed as Extinct.
It has become the world's best-known symbol of human-caused extinction.
Range & habitat
Formerly the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Hunting by arriving humans
- Introduced animals eating eggs and young
- Habitat loss
Why it matters
The dodo is the defining emblem of extinction caused by people — a reminder of how quickly island species can vanish once humans and their animals arrive.
Gallery
Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) reconstruction on museum display.
Image: BazzaDaRambler, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Dodo
- IUCN Red List — look up Dodo (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web