Tag Archives: Gallirallus sp.

Gallirallus sp. ‚Rapa‘

Rapa Rail (Gallirallus sp.)

This species is known from subfossil remains that were recovered from deposits on the island of Rapa, Austral Islands.

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

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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

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edited: 08.02.2020

Gallirallus sp. ‘Vava’u’

Malaspina’s Rail (Gallirallus sp.)

This form is known from a drawing that was made on an island of the Vava’u group, probably ‘Uta Vava’u, during the so-called ‘Malaspina Expedition’, which visited the Pacific under the leadership of Alessandro Malaspina di Mulazzo, sometime between 1789 and 1794.  

The brief description shows that the bird was bluish gray or ash gray in color, and that its plumage was less spotted or striped than most of the other species in the genus.  

The species certainly died out a few years later. [1]

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References:

[1] Storrs L. Olson: Birds, including extinct species, encountered by the Malaspina Expedition on Vava’u, Tonga, in 1793. Archives of Natural History, 33(1): 42-52. 2006

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Depiction made during the Malaspina Expedition between 1789 & 1794  

(public domain)

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edited: 02.05.2021

Gallirallus sp. ‘Ha’afeva’

Haafeva Rail (Gallirallus sp.)

Ha’afeva is a small, more or less flat coral island within the Ha’apai group in the middle of the Tongan archipelago. 

Archaeological excavations on this island found, among other things, subfossil bones of an apparently flightless species of rail, which was exterminated by Polynesians a short time after the island was first settled. 

The Haafeva Rail has not yet been scientifically described. [1][2]

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References:

[1] Jeremy J. Kirchman; David W. Steadman: Rails (Aves: Rallidae: Gallirallus) from prehistoric sites in the Kingdom of Tonga, including a description of a new species. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 118(2): 465-477. 2005 
[2] David W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006

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edited: 02.05.2021

Gallirallus sp. ‘Hiva Oa’

Hiva Oa Rail (Gallirallus sp.)

This species is known from subfossil bones only, these had been recovered from archeological deposits on the island of Hiva Oa in the southern Marquesas, French Polynesia.

The Hiva Oa Rail was flightless and thus an easy target for the first Polynesian settlers on the islands; it died out soon after the arrival of the first human settlers. [1]

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References:

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinction and biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006

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edited: 02.08.2022

Gallirallus sp. ‚Saipan‘

Saipan Rail (Gallirallus sp.)

This up to now undescribed species is only known from subfossil bones found on Saipan Island in the Mariana Archipelago.  

The species resembled the only surviving endemic rail species of the Mariana Islands, the Guam rail (Gallirallus owstoni (Rotschild)). [1]

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References:

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006

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edited: 02.05.2021