Rodrigues Owl
Encyclopedia
The Rodrigues Owl also known as Leguat's Owl or (somewhat misleadingly) Rodrigues Little Owl, was a small owl
. It lived on the Mascarene island of Rodrigues
, but it is nowadays extinct. It is part of the genus of Mascarene owls
, Mascarenotus. Like many of the Mascarene land-birds, the genus was a distinct relative to South-East Asian taxa, in this case apparently the Ninox
owls of Australasia
. However, they evolved to a form more like an Otus
little owl, and in accord with a general trend seen in insular owls, their feet were proportionally elongated and they were able to live a more terrestrial lifestyle. It is sometimes assumed that Leguat
mentioned this bird in his 1708 description, but this seems to be in error; Julien Tafforet gives a good description in 1726, however. The Rodrigues bird, which Tafforet compared to the petit-duc, the European Scops Owl
(and not, as often assumed to the Little Owl
, the chouette chevêche), was more arboreal than its congeners and fed on small birds and "lizards" (small specimens of the Rodrigues day gecko
and the Rodrigues giant day gecko
). A monotonous call was given in good weather. Considering the bird's likely relationships as evidenced by the subfossil
bones discovered later, and the detailed description of the related Mauritius Owl
, the Rodriguez bird was as large as a good-sized Southern Boobook
, with females reaching the size of a Long-eared Owl
, and had ear tufts like an Otus owl and nearly naked legs.
In the original description, Milne-Edwards
referred the bones to a Strix
owl, mistakenly assuming that Tafforet had described a species of the tuftless owl genera. One larger tibiotarsus
was assigned by him to the same sort of bird, but not described further. Günther
& E. Newton
, in their discussion of additional bones, quite logically assigned this bone to a female of this species, given that the small size of the island seems to preclude two competing similar species of owl to coexist. Rothschild
, however, described the larger bone as type of what he assumed was a miniature Eagle Owl, Bubo leguati. It is nowadays accepted that the assignment to sex by Günther & Newton was correct.
would have recorded them in 1761 if they had still been present.
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
. It lived on the Mascarene island of Rodrigues
Rodrigues (island)
Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...
, but it is nowadays extinct. It is part of the genus of Mascarene owls
Mascarene owls
The Mascarene owls form a distinct genus of owls. The three species, the Réunion Owl, Mauritius Owl, and Rodrigues Owl, are all extinct....
, Mascarenotus. Like many of the Mascarene land-birds, the genus was a distinct relative to South-East Asian taxa, in this case apparently the Ninox
Ninox
Ninox is a genus of owls comprising about 20 species found in Asia and Australasia. Many species are known as hawk owls or boobooks...
owls of Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
. However, they evolved to a form more like an Otus
Otus
Otus may refer to:* Erol Otus , American artist* HMS Otus, two ships in the Royal Navy* Otus , a genus of owls* Otus , a giant in Greek mythology* Otus of Cyllene, a hero in Greek mythology...
little owl, and in accord with a general trend seen in insular owls, their feet were proportionally elongated and they were able to live a more terrestrial lifestyle. It is sometimes assumed that Leguat
François Leguat
François Leguat was a French explorer and naturalist.Leguat was a French Huguenot originating from the Province of Bresse, now part of the department of Ain, who fled to Holland in 1689 after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685...
mentioned this bird in his 1708 description, but this seems to be in error; Julien Tafforet gives a good description in 1726, however. The Rodrigues bird, which Tafforet compared to the petit-duc, the European Scops Owl
European Scops Owl
The European Scops Owl , also known as the Eurasian Scops Owl or just Scops Owl, is a small owl. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.This bird breeds in southern...
(and not, as often assumed to the Little Owl
Little Owl
The Little Owl is a bird which is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was first introduced in 1842, and is now naturalised there...
, the chouette chevêche), was more arboreal than its congeners and fed on small birds and "lizards" (small specimens of the Rodrigues day gecko
Rodrigues day gecko
Rodrigues day gecko is a now extinct diurnal species of geckos. It lived on the island of Rodrigues and typically inhabited forests and dwelt in trees...
and the Rodrigues giant day gecko
Rodrigues giant day gecko
Rodrigues giant day gecko was an extinct diurnal species of gecko. It lived on the island of Rodrigues and surrounding islands and typically dwelt on trees. The Rodrigues giant day gecko fed on insects and nectar.-Description:...
). A monotonous call was given in good weather. Considering the bird's likely relationships as evidenced by the subfossil
Subfossil
Subfossil refers to remains whose fossilization process is not complete, either for lack of time or because the conditions in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization....
bones discovered later, and the detailed description of the related Mauritius Owl
Mauritius Owl
The extinct Mauritius Owl , also called Commerson's, Sauzier's or Newton's Owl, was endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius...
, the Rodriguez bird was as large as a good-sized Southern Boobook
Southern Boobook
The Southern Boobook , also called the Mopoke, Morepork, Ruru or Tasmanian Spotted Owl, is a small brown owl found throughout New Zealand, Tasmania, across most of mainland Australia and in Timor, southern New Guinea and nearby islands.The bird has almost 20 alternative common names, most of which...
, with females reaching the size of a Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...
, and had ear tufts like an Otus owl and nearly naked legs.
In the original description, Milne-Edwards
Alphonse Milne-Edwards
Alphonse Milne-Edwards was a French mammalologist, ornithologist and carcinologist. He was English in origin, the son of Henri Milne-Edwards and grandson of Bryan Edwards, a Jamaican planter who settled at Bruges .Milne-Edwards obtained a medical degree in 1859 and became assistant to his father...
referred the bones to a Strix
Strix
Strix may refer to:* Strix , a legendary creature of ancient Roman mythology* Strix , the genus of large "earless" wood-owls* Strix , a Swedish production company...
owl, mistakenly assuming that Tafforet had described a species of the tuftless owl genera. One larger tibiotarsus
Tibiotarsus
The tibiotarsus is the large bone between the femur and the tarsometatarsus in the leg of a bird. It is the fusion of the proximal part of the tarsus with the tibia.A similar structure also occurred in the Mesozoic Heterodontosauridae...
was assigned by him to the same sort of bird, but not described further. Günther
Albert C. L. G. Günther
Albert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist....
& E. Newton
Edward Newton
Sir Edward Newton KCMG was a British colonial administrator and ornithologist.He was born at Elveden Hall, Suffolk the sixth and youngest son of William Newton, MP. He was the brother of ornithologist Alfred Newton....
, in their discussion of additional bones, quite logically assigned this bone to a female of this species, given that the small size of the island seems to preclude two competing similar species of owl to coexist. Rothschild
Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild
Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild FRS , a scion of the Rothschild family, was a British banker, politician, and zoologist.-Biography:...
, however, described the larger bone as type of what he assumed was a miniature Eagle Owl, Bubo leguati. It is nowadays accepted that the assignment to sex by Günther & Newton was correct.
Extinction
Regardless of whether Leguat mentioned owls, Tafforet's record is the last reference to this bird. It probably was unable to cope with the ecological alterations and the predation which resulted from the human settlement and the large rat population. The bird became apparently extinct in the mid-18th century; as Rodrigues is quite a small island, it is likely that PingréAlexandre Guy Pingré
Alexandre Guy Pingré was a French astronomer, priest, and naval geographer.He was born in Paris, France, and was educated at Senlis, where he became professor of theology in 1735. At an early age he had developed an interest in astronomy, and in 1749 he was appointed professor of astronomy at the...
would have recorded them in 1761 if they had still been present.