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Description
My first submission for ’s Lost World Spec Challenge, the Tepui Dodo (Pseudoraphus tepuiensis), a large ground-dwelling pigeon believed to be most closely related to the band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata). They roam the plains, foothills, forest edges and cloud forest of Maple-White Land, and appear to favour the eastern side of the tepui. They are social birds, living in small flocks, typically led by a dominant male, and are one of the few pigeons to display sexual dimorphism, with the males being slightly larger and displaying a rusty orange neck and chest. They are primarily herbivores, foraging on seeds, ground vegetation and fallen fruit, but will supplement their diet with insects and especially snails, which they collect with their enlarged hooked beak, a mild example of neoteny compared to their relatives. Unlike their namesake, Tepui Dodos have retained the ability to fly, as there are several large predators that would happily make a meal of them, but they are too heavy to fly more than short distances, and prefer to get around using their long legs. If a burst of flight fails to get them away from predators, the birds can still lash out with their hooked beak and sharp talons.

Description
My first submission for ’s Lost World Spec Challenge, the Tepui Dodo (Pseudoraphus tepuiensis), a large ground-dwelling pigeon believed to be most closely related to the band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata). They roam the plains, foothills, forest edges and cloud forest of Maple-White Land, and appear to favour the eastern side of the tepui. They are social birds, living in small flocks, typically led by a dominant male, and are one of the few pigeons to display sexual dimorphism, with the males being slightly larger and displaying a rusty orange neck and chest. They are primarily herbivores, foraging on seeds, ground vegetation and fallen fruit, but will supplement their diet with insects and especially snails, which they collect with their enlarged hooked beak, a mild example of neoteny compared to their relatives. Unlike their namesake, Tepui Dodos have retained the ability to fly, as there are several large predators that would happily make a meal of them, but they are too heavy to fly more than short distances, and prefer to get around using their long legs. If a burst of flight fails to get them away from predators, the birds can still lash out with their hooked beak and sharp talons.