The Réunion rail (Dryolimnas augusti), also known as Dubois' wood-rail, is an extinct rail species which was endemic to the Mascarene 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 naturalists 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 a 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 was referred to as «Oiseau Bleu» in the same report. The Réunion swamphen was described as being as large as the Réunion 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 the Aldabra rail, which is likewise flightless.
As Dubois' account is the only historical reference about the Réunion rail, it might be possible that it became extinct in the late 17th century.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2017). "Dryolimnas augusti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T62258591A119207514. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T62258591A119207514.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
Cécile Mourer-Chauviré, Roger Bour, Sonia Ribes & François Moutou: The avifauna of Réunion Island (Mascarene Islands) at the time of the arrival of the first Europeans. In: Avian Paleontology at the Close of the 20th Century: Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution, Washington, D.C., 4–7 June 1996. Storrs L. Olson (Edit.) 89:p. 1-38. 1999
Anthony S. Cheke; Julian P. Hume (2008). Lost Land of the Dodo: The Ecological History of Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues. T & A.D Poyser. p. 128. ISBN978-0-7136-6544-4.
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réunion, rail, dryolimnas, augusti, also, known, dubois, wood, rail, extinct, rail, species, which, endemic, mascarene, island, réunion, scientific, name, commemorates, french, poet, auguste, villèle, 1858, 1943, whose, interest, history, réunion, hospitality,. The Reunion rail Dryolimnas augusti also known as Dubois wood rail is an extinct rail species which was endemic to the Mascarene island of Reunion The scientific name commemorates French poet Auguste de Villele 1858 1943 whose interest in the history of Reunion and hospitality made it possible for numerous naturalists to discover and explore the caves of Reunion Reunion rail Conservation status Extinct IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Gruiformes Family Rallidae Genus Dryolimnas Species D augusti Binomial name Dryolimnas augustiMourer Chauvire Bour Ribes amp Moutou 1999 The subfossil remains of the Reunion rail were unearthed in 1996 in the Caverne de la Tortue on Reunion 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 Reunion rail as a 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 amp Bourbon ou Mascarenne es annees 1669 70 71 amp 72 dans laquelle il est curieusement traite du cap Vert de la ville de Surate des isles de Sainte Helene ou de l Ascension ensemble les moeurs religions forces gouvernemens amp coutumes des habitans desdites isles avec l histoire naturelle du pais Paris Chez Claude Barbin which he named Rale des Bois translated as wood rail This species should be not confused with the Reunion swamphen which was referred to as Oiseau Bleu in the same report The Reunion swamphen was described as being as large as the Reunion ibis previously known as Reunion solitaire while the Reunion rail might have reached approximately the size of the common moorhen The Reunion rail was probably flightless because the proportions of the wing bones in comparison to those of the leg bones are similar to those of the Aldabra rail which is likewise flightless As Dubois account is the only historical reference about the Reunion rail it might be possible that it became extinct in the late 17th century References edit BirdLife International 2017 Dryolimnas augusti IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T62258591A119207514 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T62258591A119207514 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Cecile Mourer Chauvire Roger Bour Sonia Ribes amp Francois Moutou The avifauna of Reunion Island Mascarene Islands at the time of the arrival of the first Europeans In Avian Paleontology at the Close of the 20th Century Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution Washington D C 4 7 June 1996 Storrs L Olson Edit 89 p 1 38 1999 Anthony S Cheke Julian P Hume 2008 Lost Land of the Dodo The Ecological History of Mauritius Reunion and Rodrigues T amp A D Poyser p 128 ISBN 978 0 7136 6544 4 nbsp This Gruiformes related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reunion rail amp oldid 1119381877, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
