Rapa Rail (Gallirallus astolfoi)

This species is known from subfossil remains that were recovered from deposits on the island of Rapa, Austral Islands; it was described in 2021.

The form apparently was similar yet smaller than the Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis (L.)), like all now extinct Polynesian rails, also this form was completely flightless. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] J. D. Tennyson; Atholl Anderson: Bird, reptile and mammal remains from archaeological sites on Rapa Island. In: Atholl Anderson; Douglas J. Kennett: Taking the High Ground; The archaeology of Rapa, a fortified island in remote East Polynesia. In: Terra Australis 37. 105-114. Canberra, ANU E Press 2012
[2] Rodrigo B. Salvador; Atholl Anderson; Alan J. D. Tennyson: An Extinct New Rail (Gallirallus, Aves: Rallidae) Species from Rapa Island, French Polynesia. Taxonomy 1(4): 448-457. 2021

*********************

edited: 08.02.2020