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Rodrigues solitaire and domed Rodrigues giant
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Rodrigues solitaire and domed Rodrigues giant
Rodrigues solitaire, Pezophaps solitaria and domed Rodrigues giant tortoise, Cylindraspis peltastes, both extinct. Facsimile of the frontispiece of Francois Leguats Voyage, published 1708. 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 23168652
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Alexander Cucullatus Didus Dodo Domed Edwin Extinct Francois Frontispiece Giant Gordon Hugh Ineptus Melville Raphus Rodrigues Solitaire Solitaria Strickland Tortoise Voyage
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This frontispiece, taken from Francois Leguat's Voyage to the Isle de Rodrigues, published in 1708, showcases two of the most enigmatic and tragically extinct species of the Indian Ocean: the Rodrigues solitaire and the domed Rodrigues giant tortoise. The Rodrigues solitaire, scientifically known as Pezophaps solitaria, was a flightless bird endemic to the island of Rodrigues, with a distinctive appearance, featuring a long, curved beak and a plump, round body. The Rodrigues giant tortoise, Cylindraspis peltastes, was a large, domed-shelled tortoise, also unique to Rodrigues. The image, hand-colored and produced as a lithograph in 1848 by Hugh Edwin Strickland and Alexander Gordon Melville for their seminal work, The Dodo and its Kindred, offers a fascinating glimpse into the natural history of these extraordinary creatures. The solitaire is depicted perched on a branch, its beak slightly open as if in song, while the domed Rodrigues giant tortoise is shown resting beneath it, its massive shell providing a protective shelter. The discovery of these animals on Rodrigues, a remote island in the Indian Ocean, sparked great interest among naturalists and explorers of the time. However, their isolation and the limited resources available on the island led to their eventual extinction. The Rodrigues solitaire and the domed Rodrigues giant tortoise are but two of the many fascinating and enigmatic species that have been lost to the world, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving the natural world and the unique biodiversity it holds.
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