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Skull, jaw and sclerotic bones of dodo
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Skull, jaw and sclerotic bones of dodo
Back view of skull, upper and lower view of lower jaw, inner view of jaw, and circle of sclerotic bones in the dodo. Lithograph from Hugh Edwin Strickland and Alexander Gordon Melvilles The Dodo and its Kindred, London, Reeve, Benham and Reeve, 1848
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Media ID 23168680
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Alexander Bones Circle Cucullatus Didus Dodo Edwin Extinct Gordon Hugh Ineptus Kindred Lower Melville Raphus Skull Strickland
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In this lithograph from the seminal work "The Dodo and its Kindred" by Hugh Edwin Strickland and Alexander Gordon Melville, published in London by Reeve, Benham and Reeve in 1848, we are offered a detailed and intricately hand-colored view of the skull, jaw, and sclerotic bones of the enigmatic and extinct flightless bird, the dodo (Raphus cucullatus). The image provides a comprehensive anatomical exploration of the dodo's unique cranial structure, with the back view of the skull revealing its distinctive flattened and elongated shape, while the upper and lower views of the lower jaw showcase its heavy, curved, and toothless bones. The inner view of the jaw offers a glimpse into the complex muscular structure that allowed the dodo to grind its food with great force. The most striking feature of this image, however, is the circle of sclerotic bones encircling the dodo's eye sockets. These bones, which are typically found in birds and reptiles, protected the dodo's eyes from damage, a feature that may have been crucial for its survival in its native habitat of Mauritius. The dodo, scientifically named Raphus cucullatus, was a peculiar and inept bird, with a body shape unlike any other avian species. Its extinction, which occurred around the time of European discovery of Mauritius in the late 16th century, remains a subject of much debate among scientists and historians. This exquisite lithograph, with its meticulous attention to detail and beautiful hand-coloring, serves as a testament to the fascination that the dodo continues to hold for us, as we strive to understand the mysteries of this enigmatic and extinct bird.
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