Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species was found in Mauritius, but is now Extinct as a result of hunting by settlers and nest predation by introduced animals.
Population justification
No extant population remains.
Trend justification
This species is known to be extinct. It is thought to have become extinct sometime between 1662 and 1693 (Hume 2017). Hunting of the species is most often cited as the cause of extinction, but the introduction of Rattus rattus (Black Rats), pigs, goats, and possibly monkeys, all likely contributed to the declines through competition and predation of eggs (Hume 2017).
Raphus cucullatus is known from numerous bones, specimen fragments, reports and paintings from Mauritius (Strickland and Melville 1848). It was last reported from an offshore islet by Iversen in 1662 (Cheke 1987), and although one analysis indicates that it is likely to have persisted until 1690 (Roberts and Solow 2004), it is generally considered that all references to "dodos" thereafter refer to Red Rail Aphanapteryx bonasia (Cheke 2006, Hume 2017).
It was mainly a species of the dry lowland forests (Owadally 1979), reportedly occurred in forest dominated with Sideroxylon grandiflorum, Pandanus sp., and endemic plants (de Boer et al. 2013; Rijkdijk et al. 2009, 2011, 2015). Evidence suggests it was predominantly herbivorous (Rijsdijk et al. 2009). Evidence suggests the species likely foraged on hard seeds, fallen fruits, land snails, and possibly marine invertebrates (Hume 2017). The species was flightless (Livezey 1993) and tame (Hachisuka 1953).
Due to its tameness and large size it was very heavily hunted for food by sailors (Hachisuka 1953). The introduction of Rattus rattus (Black Rats), pigs, goats, and possibly monkeys, also all likely contributed to the declines through competition and predation of eggs (Hume 2017). There are also reports of the species being shipped off island for use as a display animal. For example, live specimens were reported from a menagerie in India (Herbert 1634, Temple 1914), and a live specimen was on display in London in 1638 (Strickland and Melville 1848).
Text account compilers
Khwaja, N., Brooks, T., Richardson, L., Mahood, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Dodo Raphus cucullatus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/dodo-raphus-cucullatus on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.