Raphinae Collection

Raphus cucullatus, dodo
Plate 1 from Memoirs on the Dodo by Sir Richard Owen, 1866

Raphus cucullatus, dodo
A mounted specimen of the extinct flightless bird, the dodo (Raphus cucullatus). The dodo lived on the island of Mauritius and became extinct during the late 1600s

Raphus solitarius, Reunion white dodo
Plate 25 from Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World (1907) by Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild

Didus ineptus, dodo design
Drawing 51 Vol 2 by Alfred Waterhouse for the ornamentation of the panel over doorway in the South East gallery, first floor of the Natural History Museum, London, 1875

Dodo skeleton, Raphus cucullatus
The dodo is an icon of extinction, one of the first widely acknowledged cases of a species being wiped out by humans. There are so few complete dodo skeletons that we may never know exactly what they

Dodo skeleton C016 / 5550
Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) skeleton. Roughly the size of a swan, this bird was heavily-built, clumsy and flightless. It was found on the island of Mauritius

Peacocks, Turkeys and a Dodo
Illustration of Peacocks, Turkeys and a Dodo by Francis Willughby (1635-1672)

Detail of terracotta moulding of a dodo in the Waterhouse Bu
The Waterhouse Buiding at the Natural History Museum, London was designed by Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) and first opened its doors on Easter Monday 1881

Dodo, peacocks and turkeys
Plate XXVII from Francies Willughbys ornithologi libri tres : in quibus Aves omnes hactenus cognit... describuntur... Totum opus recognovit, di gessit, supplevit J. Raius, &c, 1676

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Raphinae, a fascinating group of flightless birds, includes the extinct species Raphus solitarius, commonly known as the Reunion white dodo. These unique creatures were native to the island of Réunion and sadly became extinct in the 17th century due to human activities. Another well-known member of the Raphinae family is Raphus cucullatus, famously referred to as simply "dodo. " This bird inhabited Mauritius until it met a similar fate as its Reunion counterpart. The dodo's appearance was often depicted with a large beak and stout body. Didus ineptus, an alternative name for this remarkable creature, highlights its unfortunate destiny. Despite being unable to adapt quickly enough to survive against human interference and introduced predators like rats and dogs, these birds left behind an enduring legacy. Today, we can marvel at their existence through preserved specimens such as dodo skeletons. These skeletal remains provide valuable insights into their anatomy and allow us to understand more about these enigmatic creatures that once roamed our planet. The story serves as a reminder of how fragile life can be when faced with environmental changes caused by humans. It urges us to reflect on our actions towards other species sharing this Earth with us and strive for better conservation efforts. Let us remember the magnificent Raphus cucullatus - the dodos - whose presence may have been lost forever but whose memory continues to captivate our imaginations even today.