Réunion Rail
Encyclopedia
The Réunion Rail also known as Dubois's Wood-rail is an extinct rail
species which was endemic to the Mascarenes island of Réunion
. The scientific name commemorates French poet Auguste de Villèle (1858-1943) whose interest in the history of Réunion and hospitality made it possible for numerous naturalist
s to discover and explore the caves of Réunion.
The subfossil remains of the Réunion rail were unearthed in 1996 in the Caverne de la Tortue on Réunion
and scientifically described in 1999. The material includes two complete tarso-metatarsi, five vertebrae, one sacrum, one coracoid, two humeri, one ulna, three femora, ten pedal phalanxes and one fragment of the left mandibula.
The appearance of the bones identifies the Réunion rail as close relative of the White-throated Rail
and the Aldabra rail. The large and stout tarsometatarsus shows that it might have been the largest known taxon within the genus Dryolimnas
.
Historically there is one travel report which might refer to this species. In 1674 Sieur Dubois mentioned a rail in his report “Les voyages faits par le sievr D.B. aux isles Dauphine ou Madagascar, & Bourbon, ou Mascarenne, és années 1669, 70, 71, & 72: dans laquelle il est curieusement traité du cap Vert de la ville de Surate des isles de Sainte Helene, ou de l'Ascension: ensemble les moeurs, religions, forces, gouvernemens & coûtumes des habitans desdites isles, avec l'histoire naturelle du païs. Paris : Chez Claude Barbin“ which he named «Râle des Bois» (translated as wood-rail). This species should be not confused with the Réunion Swamphen
which referred too as «Oiseau Bleu» in the same report. The Réunion Swamphen was described as large as the Réunion Sacred Ibis
(previously known as Réunion Solitaire) while the Réunion rail might have reached approximately the size of the Common moorhen
. The Réunion rail was probably flightless because the proportions of the wing bones in comparison to those of the leg bones are similar to those of Aldabra rail which is likewise flightless.
As Dubois's account is the only historical reference about the Réunion rail it might be possible that it became extinct in the late 17th century.
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
species which was endemic to the Mascarenes island of Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
. The scientific name commemorates French poet Auguste de Villèle (1858-1943) whose interest in the history of Réunion and hospitality made it possible for numerous naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
s to discover and explore the caves of Réunion.
The subfossil remains of the Réunion rail were unearthed in 1996 in the Caverne de la Tortue on Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
and scientifically described in 1999. The material includes two complete tarso-metatarsi, five vertebrae, one sacrum, one coracoid, two humeri, one ulna, three femora, ten pedal phalanxes and one fragment of the left mandibula.
The appearance of the bones identifies the Réunion rail as close relative of the White-throated Rail
White-throated Rail
The White-throated Rail or Cuvier's Rail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family. It is found in Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, and Seychelles. A flightless subspecies, Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus , inhabits Aldabra, while another, D. c...
and the Aldabra rail. The large and stout tarsometatarsus shows that it might have been the largest known taxon within the genus Dryolimnas
Dryolimnas
The genus Dryolimnas comprises birds in the rail family. The Réunion Rail, a member of this genus, became extinct in the 17th century. The White-throated Rail of Aldabra is the last surviving flightless bird in the western Indian Ocean....
.
Historically there is one travel report which might refer to this species. In 1674 Sieur Dubois mentioned a rail in his report “Les voyages faits par le sievr D.B. aux isles Dauphine ou Madagascar, & Bourbon, ou Mascarenne, és années 1669, 70, 71, & 72: dans laquelle il est curieusement traité du cap Vert de la ville de Surate des isles de Sainte Helene, ou de l'Ascension: ensemble les moeurs, religions, forces, gouvernemens & coûtumes des habitans desdites isles, avec l'histoire naturelle du païs. Paris : Chez Claude Barbin“ which he named «Râle des Bois» (translated as wood-rail). This species should be not confused with the Réunion Swamphen
Réunion Swamphen
The Réunion Swamphen, Réunion Gallinule or Oiseau bleu is a hypothetical species of extinct rail from Réunion, Mascarenes until now only known from reports of travellers....
which referred too as «Oiseau Bleu» in the same report. The Réunion Swamphen was described as large as the Réunion Sacred Ibis
Réunion Sacred Ibis
The Réunion Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius, is an extinct bird species that was native to the island of Réunion. It is probably the same bird discovered by Portuguese sailors there in 1613...
(previously known as Réunion Solitaire) while the Réunion rail might have reached approximately the size of the Common moorhen
Common Moorhen
The Common Moorhen is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to...
. The Réunion rail was probably flightless because the proportions of the wing bones in comparison to those of the leg bones are similar to those of Aldabra rail which is likewise flightless.
As Dubois's account is the only historical reference about the Réunion rail it might be possible that it became extinct in the late 17th century.