Dodo

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dodo

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Raphus cucullatus
2. What is the habitat?Endemic to the island of Mauritius, Indian Ocean
3. What was the dodo like and why couldn't it fly?The dodo was a big, clumsy bird that lived on Mauritius. It couldn't fly because it had very small wings and no predators to chase it away.
4. Where did the dodo live and what did it eat?The dodo lived only on the island of Mauritius. It ate fallen fruits, seeds, nuts, and roots it found on the forest floor.

Island Biogeography: The scientific study of the factors that affect the species of biological communities on islands.
Invasive Species: A non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm.
Vestigial Wings: Wings that have become reduced in size and function over evolutionary time, often becoming incapable of flight.
Gastroliths: Stones swallowed by animals, particularly birds, to aid in grinding food in the gizzard.