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[David Morris]

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/12/science/life/12DODO.html

A New Look at the Long-Lost Dodo and Its Family Tree

Now a team of scientists, relying on DNA extracted from the preserved dodo 
thought to have inspired Lewis Carroll, has confirmed one longstanding 
school of thought about the bird's heritage. It seems that the dodo and the 
closely related solitaire bird — another flightless giant native to 
neighboring islands in the Mascarene chain — are nothing but overgrown, 
landlubbing pigeons.

[...]

Based on molecular discrepancies between the dodo and other pigeons, the 
researchers calculated that the dodo and solitaire separated from the other 
pigeons about 42 million years ago and then flew to the Mascarene Islands, a 
volcanic chain in the Indian Ocean.

Once the birds settled, they did what island-bound species often do: they 
evolved to suit their habitat. With few predators to worry about, the birds 
lost their need to fly, and they could instead focus on becoming big: the 
dodo stood about three feet tall and weighed as much as a good- size turkey.

"In an island situation, the birds that put on the most mass, and eat the 
most, can dominate in terms of mating and territory," Dr. Cooper said in a 
telephone interview. "Breast muscles needed for flying are very expensive. 
They're fast- twitch muscles that use a lot of energy keeping them there. So 
a bird that can afford to give up those muscles and use the energy to get 
big will be rewarded very quickly."
Without wings, the big birds had no way to escape from human hunters or the 
ravenous mammals they brought along. "The Portuguese sailors used them for 
food, because they were so easy to catch," Dr. Cooper said. "But they 
complained about the meat. Apparently the birds didn't taste very good."





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