dodo
DOH-doh
Definition
A flightless, extinct bird native to Mauritius that has historically been used as a symbol for stupidity or evolutionary failure.
Etymology
The word likely comes from the Portuguese word 'doudo', meaning 'fool' or 'mad', reflecting how early European explorers perceived the bird's fearlessness toward humans.
In the news
The article re-examines the dodo's anatomy to challenge its long-standing reputation as a simple or 'stupid' animal, revealing it was actually adapted to a specific low-light environment.
Scientists have reconstructed the dodo's brain from CT scans of its skull and found an oversized smell centre and forward-facing, owl-like eyes — the bird that became shorthand for stupidity appears to have been navigating Mauritius by nose, and in the dark
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com