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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field

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Flightless birds: when did the dodo become extinct?

David L Roberts¹, Andrew R Solow

¹Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK.

|November 25, 2003

Summary

The dodo bird (Raphus cucullatus) likely went extinct in 1690, nearly 30 years after its last confirmed sighting. This study uses statistical analysis to pinpoint the extinction date for this famous species.

Area of Science:

Paleontology
Zoology
Ecological History

Background:

The extinction of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a well-known event in natural history.
The last confirmed sighting of the dodo was in 1662, but its exact extinction date remains uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

To statistically determine the actual extinction time of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus).
To provide a more precise date for the extinction of this iconic species.

Main Methods:

Utilized a statistical method to analyze extinction timelines.
Evaluated historical sighting data and population rarity.

Main Results:

The study estimates the dodo's extinction year to be 1690.

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This date is approximately 30 years later than the last confirmed sighting in 1662.

Conclusions:

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) likely persisted for several decades after it was last officially recorded.
Statistical modeling offers a more accurate approach to dating species extinctions.