New Skull Study Rewrites the Dodo’s Brainy Image
A high-resolution CT analysis of three preserved dodo skulls shows the bird’s forebrain was proportionate to other pigeons, suggesting similar cognitive abilities and challenging the stereotype of a stupid dodo; the extinction on Mauritius after humans arrived likely reflected ecological factors rather than inherent dimness, with hints the dodo may have foraged in low-light conditions due to smaller optic lobes.