Editing Dodo (section)

===Skeleton===
[[File:Oxford Dodo skull.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Lithographs of the dodo skull at the Oxford Museum|1848 lithographs of the Oxford dodo's skull in multiple views]]

The skull of the dodo differed much from those of other pigeons, especially in being more robust, the bill having a hooked tip, and in having a short cranium compared to the jaws. The upper bill was nearly twice as long as the cranium, which was short compared to those of its closest pigeon relatives. The openings of the bony nostrils were elongated along the length of the beak, and they contained no bony septum. The cranium (excluding the beak) was wider than it was long, and the [[frontal bone]] formed a dome-shape, with the highest point above the hind part of the eye sockets. The skull sloped downwards at the back. The eye sockets occupied much of the hind part of the skull. The [[sclerotic rings]] inside the eye were formed by eleven ossicles (small bones), similar to the amount in other pigeons. The mandible was slightly curved, and each half had a single [[Fenestra (anatomy)|fenestra]] (opening), as in other pigeons.<ref name=ClaessensMeijer2016/>

[[File:Raphus and Pezophaps.jpg|thumb|alt=A comparison between the morphologies of the dodo and its closest relative, the Rodrigues solitaire, notable differences include the smaller skull and longer neck of the Rodrigues solitaire|Skeleton of the dodo (left) and its closest relative, the [[Rodrigues solitaire]], not to scale]]
The dodo had about nineteen presynsacral vertebrae (those of the neck and [[thorax]], including three fused into a [[notarium]]), sixteen [[synsacral]] vertebrae (those of the [[lumbar region]] and [[sacrum]]), six free tail (caudal) vertebrae, and a [[pygostyle]]. The neck had well-developed areas for muscle and ligament attachment, probably to support the heavy skull and beak. On each side, it had six ribs, four of which articulated with the [[sternum]] through sternal ribs. The sternum was large, but small in relation to the body compared to those of much smaller pigeons that are able to fly. The sternum was highly [[Skeletal pneumaticity|pneumatic]], broad, and relatively thick in cross-section. The bones of the [[pectoral girdle]], shoulder blades, and wing bones were reduced in size compared to those of flighted pigeon, and were more gracile compared to those of the Rodrigues solitaire, but none of the individual skeletal components had disappeared. The [[carpometacarpus]] of the dodo was more robust than that of the solitaire, however. The pelvis was wider than that of the solitaire and other relatives, yet was comparable to the proportions in some smaller, flighted pigeons. Most of the leg bones were more robust than those of extant pigeons and the solitaire, but the length proportions were little different.<ref name=ClaessensMeijer2016/>

Many of the skeletal features that distinguish the dodo and the Rodrigues solitaire, its closest relative, from other pigeons have been attributed to their flightlessness. The pelvic elements were thicker than those of flighted pigeons to support the higher weight, and the [[pectoralis major muscle|pectoral]] region and the small wings were [[neoteny|paedomorphic]], meaning that they were underdeveloped and retained juvenile features. The skull, trunk and [[pelvic]] limbs were [[peramorphic]], meaning that they changed considerably with age. The dodo shared several other traits with the Rodrigues solitaire, such as features of the skull, pelvis, and sternum, as well as their large size. It differed in other aspects, such as being more robust and shorter than the solitaire, having a larger skull and beak, a rounded [[skull roof]], and smaller [[orbits]]. The dodo's neck and legs were proportionally shorter, and it did not possess an equivalent to the knob present on the solitaire's wrists.<ref name=Livezey1993/>