Astove Rail (Dryolimnas sp.)

The Atove atoll is a part of the Aldabra group of the outer islands of the Seychelles archipelago; it is home to several land bird forms and appears to have also harbored a population of rails in former times, this can be taken from a contemporary report.:

“Birds seemed scarce, but I noticed a Cinnyris and a rail (Dryolimnas abbotti?) which seemed to be the Assumption species.” [1]

This rail form may well have been an endemic form, it apparently died out sometimes at the beginning of the 20th century.

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References:

[1] J. C. F. Fryer: The structure and formation of Aldabra and neighbouring islands – with notes on their flora and fauna. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 2nd series. Zoology 14(3): 397-442. 1911

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edited: 03.01.2023