Dodo (SciiFii)

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a species of flightless bird that is endemic to the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The dodo's closest genetic relative is the Rodrigues solitaire, the two forming the subfamily Raphinae of the family of pigeons and doves. The closest relative of both the dodo and the Rodrigues solitaire is the Nicobar pigeon. Dodos were once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii before reintroducing them back to Mauritius, and the dodos are common in captivity, even in Cenozoic Park. Dodos are normally about 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) tall and can weigh between 10.6–17.5 kilograms (23–39 lb) in the wild. The dodo has brownish-grey plumage, yellow feet, a tuft of tail feathers, a grey, naked head, and a black, yellow, and green beak. It uses gizzard stones to help digest its food, which includes fruits, and its main habitat is woodlands in the drier coastal areas of Mauritius. The dodo's clutch consists of a single egg. It is presumed that the dodo became flightless because of the ready availability of abundant food sources and a relative absence of predators on Mauritius. The conservation status of the dodo is Endangered.