Seychelles Turtle Dove (Nesoenas picturata ssp. rostrata)
The Seychelles Turtle Dove is a subspecies of the Madagascar Turtle Dove (Nesoenas picturata (Temminck)); as its name implies, it inhabited to Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. It is known to have inhabited at least the islands of Cousin and Cousine, Mahé and Praslin, as well as Aride- and Bird Island, where the last pure-bred birds were found.
The form is sometimes considered a full species; it disappeared du to hybridization with (nominate) Madagascar Turtle Doves, that somehow reached the Seychelles, either by themselves or with human aid. No pure-bred birds are known to exist now; however, their genes live on in the turtle dove population that now inhabits the Seychelles. ***
Cosmoledo is an atoll in the Aldabra group of the outer islands of the Seychelles archipelago; it has a very small area of dry land yet is home to at least four species of land birds, the Souimanga Sunbird (Cinnyris sovimanga ssp. buchenorum Williams), the Malagasy Turtle-Dove (Nesoenas picturatus ssp. coppingeri (Sharpe)), the Malagasy White-eye (Zosterops maderaspatanus ssp. menaiensis (Benson)) and a rail that is only known from a single contemporary report.:
“A rail (Dryolimnas abbotti?) still exists on South Island, and a Cinnyris perhaps forms a local race, but land birds were scarce on Cosmoledo, which as a whole seemed too broken into small islands to be suitable for a land fauna.” [1]
The three volant bird species are surviving until today but the rail is now gone.
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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
The Small Seychelles Harvestman was described in 1911; it is known to have inhabited the islands of Mahé, Praslin and Silhoutette in the Seychelles archipelago.
The species has a body length of about 0.6 cm (including the palpi); it is dark brown; the distal ends of the tibiae of the second- and fourth legs are white; the distal tarsal segment of the third and the distal end of the metatarsus and the tarsal segments of the fourth are also pale-colored; the remaining segments of the legs being dark brown in color. [1]
The Small Seychelles Harvestman was only ever found once on Praslin in 1908 and was last recorded from Mahé and Silhouette in 1972; it has never been found since and is likely extinct now.
***
syn. Hinzuanius parvulus Hirst
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palp from the inner side
Depiction from: ‘ S. Hirst: The Araneae, Opiliones and Pseudoscorpiones. The Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905, under the leadership of Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, M.A. Vol 3. No. XVIII. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Second Series. Vol. 14. Zoology.: 379-395. 1910-1912’
(not in copyright)
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References:
[1] S. Hirst: The Araneae, Opiliones and Pseudoscorpiones. The Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905, under the leadership of Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner, M.A. Vol 3. No. XVIII. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Second Series. Vol. 14. Zoology.: 379-395. 1910-1912
Coquerel’s Sphinx Moth is divided into five subspecies of which two are confined to Madagascar while the other three occur on the island groups to the north of Madagascar.
The Aldabra atoll was inhabited by an endemic form, the Aldabra Sphinx Moth, which was described in 1909 and which is said to have been quite similar to the nominate form (see photo).
This form is now considered extinct, the reasons appear not to be known.
[1] Pat Matyot: The hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of Seychelles: identification, historical background, distribution, food plants and ecological considerations. Phelsuma 13. 55-80. 2005 [2] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phelsuma 20: 9-22. 2012
Today, the species of this genus occur only on Madagascar and on Grande Comore, Comoro Islands; yet, they appear to have been much more widespread in former times.
This taxon is known from subfossil bones that were recovered from deposits on Grande Terre, the largest island of the Aldabra Atoll.
In live this taxon must have been larger than any of its living congeners, reaching lengths of about 35 cm (including the tail).
***
The photo below shows a congeneric species from Madagascar, the Collared Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri (Gray)).
The fish-scale geckos inhabit Madagascar and the Comoro Islands; the former occurrence of the genus on the Aldabra Atoll is proven by the existence of fossil remains that were recovered from deposits on Grande Terre, the largest island of the atoll.
The Aldabran form was apparently larger than any of its living congeners, reaching lengths of about 20 cm (including the tail).
***
The species seems to have disappeared sometimes during the Pleistocene/Holocene border.
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References:
[1] E. N. Arnold: Fossil reptiles from Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean. bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Zoology 29(2): 83-116. 1976
Amirante Islands Turtle Dove (Nesoenas picturata ssp. aldabrana)
The Amirante Islands are a group of small coral islands in the so-called outher Seychelles southwest of the Seychelles main islands.
These islands were once inhabted by an endemic subspecies of the Madagascar Turtle Dove (Nesoenas picturata (Temminck)), which actually might even warrant species status.
The Amirante Islands Turtle Dove was apparently extirpated by direct hunting, because the birds were seen as a pest; the last individuals were seen in the 1950s.
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Depiction from: ‘P. L. Sclater: Description of a new species of dove from the coralreef of Alabra. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1871: 692-693′
The Aldabra Atoll still harbors at least one endemic form of this genus, the Aldabra Day Gecko (Phelsuma abbotti ssp. abbotti Stejneger).
“Although the bones could not be precisely matched with any of the many West Indian Ocean and Ethiopian geckoes compared with them, they do have a general resemblance to the smaller species of Phelsuma. However, none of the members of this genus examined have the mental foramina placed so close to the upper margin of the dentary. This feature and the very restricted taper of the cylindrical body of the bone distinguish the fossils from P. abbotti, which is now present on Aldabra.” [1]
The species might have reached a length of about 10 cm (including the tail).
***
This species disappeared around the Pleistocene/Holocene border.
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References:
[1] E. N. Arnold: Fossil reptiles from Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean. bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Zoology 29(2): 83-116. 1976
This species was described in 2009 based on a single male specimen that was collected in March, April or May 1892 on the island of Mahé, Seychelles Islands.
The species was never found since its original collection and was thus considered extinct by its author. [1]
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References:
[1] Adrian C. Pont: A new species of Coenosia Meigen, 1826 from the Seychelles Islands (Insecta, Diptera: Muscidae). Phelsume 17: 9-11. 2009
[2] Justin Gerlach: Red List ing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
This species was described in 1914, it was endemic to the Seychelles Islands (which island(s) exactly?), from where it was not recorded in recent years, it is thus considered extinct. [1]
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phelsuma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Seychelles Big-headed Fly was described in 1922 based on one male- and three female specimens, of which apparently only two of the female specimens still exist.
The species was found on the islands of Mahé and Silhouette, Seychelles but has apparently never been recorded since 1908, when the types had been collected. [1]
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syn. Pipunculus sylvaticoides Lamb
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References:
[1] Marc De Meyer: A revision of the Afrotropical species of Tomosvaryella Aczél, 1939 (Diptera: Pipunculidae) Annals of the Natal Museum 34(1): 43-101. 1993
The former existence of a member of this genus, otherwise known from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, on the Aldabra Atoll is proven by numerous fossil bones that were found on Grande Terre, the largest of the atoll’s islands.
The species might have grown to a size of about 12 cm (including the tail)
***
The Aldabra Ground Gecko obviously disappeared around the Pleistovene/Holocene border.
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References:
[1] E. N. Arnold: Fossil reptiles from Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean. bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Zoology 29(2): 83-116. 1976
This species was a terrestrial or epiphytic (depending on which source) orchid, that was restricted to the island of Mahé, Seychelles Islands.
The Seychelles Oeceoclades Orchid is said to have been very similar in vegetative morphology to the closely related Malagasy Lanceated Oeceoclades Orchid (Oeceoclades lanceata (H. Perrier) Garay & P. Taylor), from which it differed, however, in some floral characteristics, especially by its proportionally shorter lip.
The species is known exclusively from the type specimen that was collected in 1902 in a region that was covered with intact mountain forest at that time, but that now is degraded by human activity and overgrown with introduced invasive plant species.
The Seychelles Oeceoclades Orchid is thus considered extinct.
***
The species was once cultivated in the Botanical Garden of Kew, Great Britain at the beginning of the 20th century, but seems to have disappeared from there as well.
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Desroches Cockroach is, resp. was endemic to the island of Desroches, an only 3,24 km² large area of land in the Desroches Atoll in the Amirante islands group of the outer islands of the Seychelles. The species is known from only five specimens that were collected in 1905.
The males reached a length of about 1 cm; the females were smaller.
The Desroches Cockroach disappeared due to the destruction of the island’s indigenous flora.
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phelsuma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Semiopaque Big-headed Fly was described in 1922, apparently based on two specimens that had been collected in 1908 on the plateau of Mare aux Cochons on Silhouette as well as in 1909 near the western coast of Mahé, Seychelles.
This was apparently a parasitoid of planthopper bugs. [1]
The Semiopaque Big-headed Fly has not been found in recent surveys and appears to be extinct.
***
syn. Pipunculus semiopacus Lamb
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Silhouette Geophilomorph Centipede was described in 1981 based on a single specimen that was collected from a wooded site on Mt. Daban on Silhouette Island in the Seychelles.
The species reaches a length of at least 4,8 cm, it is mainly pale yellowish colored, its head and front segments are reddish brown. [1]
The species was never recorded since and is considered most likely extinct.
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References:
[1] Lucio Bonato; Alessandro Minelli: The geophilomorph centipedes of the Seychelles (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha). Phelsuma 18: 9-38. 2010
The Silhouette Glabrennea Snail was described in 1994, it restricted to a very small area on Mt. Dauban on the island of Silhouette, Seychelles Islands, when it was discovered in 1990.
The species apparently was an inhabitant of leaf litter.
The Silhouette Glabrennea Snail was only ever found at its type locality, once in 1990, and a for second time one year later in 1991, when its population was already declining. All subsequent searches (2000, 2009, 2010) at the type locality and other suitable areas failed to find the species again which thus is considered extinct. [1]
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red List ing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012 [2] Justin Gerlach: Changes in non-marine mollusc populations in the Seychelles islands 1986-2012. Phelsuma 20: 23-38-2012
This taxon is known from fossil remains that were recovered from deposits on Grande Terre, the largest of the island that form the Aldabra Atoll in the southern Seychelles.
However, given the fact that this genus currently occurs only in southern Africa, it is rather likely that the remains from Aldabra may have been misidentified.
The species might have reached a size of about 15 to 18 cm (including the tail).
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References:
[1] E. N. Arnold: Fossil reptiles from Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean. bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Zoology 29(2): 83-116. 1976
Bois Banane (Polyscias sechellarum var. contracta)
The Bois Banane (Polyscias sechellarum Baker) is endemic to the Seychelles Islands, where it occurs or occurred on the islands of Curieuse, Félicite, La Digue, Mahé, Praslin, and Silhouette.
The species is split into at least three varieties of which the one discussed here apparently was restricted tot he island of Mahé, from which, however, it was not recorded in recent surveys, it is thus considered most likely extinct.
This species was described in 1921, it is apparently known from only four specimens that were collected on the islands of Mahé and Silhouette, Seychelles Islands.
The last specimen, a male, was obviously collected in 1969, since that date there has not been any trace of this species, which is now feared to be extinct.
[1] Pat Matyot: The hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of Seychelles: identification, historical background, distribution, food plants and ecological considerations. Phelsuma 13. 55-80. 2005 [2] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phelsuma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Fleece Landsnail was endemic to the island of Mahé in the Seychelles; it was specialized to the moist forests on the summits of the north-western part of the island.
The species disappeared sometimes around 1994 after invasive plants began altering its habitat, especially Cinnamon Trees (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) and Vanilla Orchids (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) which now cover large areas of former native forest.
Predation by the introduced and invasive Tailless Tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus (Schreber)) very likely also plays a role – many snail shells are found with conspicuous bite marks caused by this small mammal.
***
The reason for this species’ extinction is often said to be due to hybridization with a congeneric species from lower elevations, the Black Landsnail (Pachnodus niger (Dufo)); however, this assumption turned out to be wrong and the putative hybrids were found to be a completely distinct species.
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Depiction from: ‘Christian R. Altaba: Extinction through Climate Change: Review of Evidence and Analysis of Two Land Snails from the Seychelles Islands. Preprints 2022, 2022100315. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0315.v1’
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012 [2] Christian R. Altaba: Extinction through Climate Change: Review of Evidence and Analysis of Two Land Snails from the Seychelles Islands. Preprints 2022, 2022100315. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0315.v1
This species was described in 1912; it is, or maybe was, endemic to the Seychelles, the exact locality, however, is apparently not known.
The cephalothorax reaches a length of 0,5 cm, the legs reach lengths of 0,6 to 1 cm, they are covered with variable spikes; the species is generally rusty colored, except for the eyes which are black.
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References:
[1] C. Fr. Roewer: Die Familien der Assamiden und Phalangodiden der Opiliones-Laniatores. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 78(3): 1-244. 1912
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Depiction from: ‘C. Fr. Roewer: Die Familien der Assamiden und Phalangodiden der Opiliones-Laniatores. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 78(3): 1-244. 1912’
The Small Mahe Harvestman was described in 1913; it was endemic to the island of Mahé in the Seychelles.
The species has not been seen since its discovery in 1908 and is thought to be extinct; unfortunately I have not been able so far to find any further information about this species.
This small snail species was described in 2001; it is known only from the Île de Frégate in the Seychelles.
The species was described after its apparent extinction; the last life individuals were seen in the year 2000 and it is believed that this species, who feeds on carrion, inadvertently fell victim to a rat eradication program that used poisoned baits to kill invasive rats.
There is, however, a slight chance that a tiny population might have survived, hidden somewhere and yet unseen.
Assumption Island or Île de l’Assomption is a small coral island that lies south of the Aldabra atoll in the Indian Ocean; the island is home to at least to endemic bird taxa, the Abbott’s Sunbird (Cinnyris sovimanga ssp. abbotti Ridgway) and the Assumption Rail, which is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Malagasy White-throated Rail ((Dryolimnas cuvieri (Pucheran)).
The island had large guano deposits ….
There is a contemporary report of the rail that was made one year before the guano mining started.:
“On first entering the belt of trees and low bushes which fringes the shore, we were greeted by a chorus of squeals and grunts, as though a litter of pigs was hidden in the cover. This remarkable noise proceeded from a number of rails, birds much like our water-rail but rather more stoutly built, and with wine-red breasts, barred on the flanks and belly with black and white. These rails were very tame, and walked about close to us in a perfectly unconcerned manner. We never saw one of them fly, or even try to do so: they trusted entirely to their legs when pursued. In several patches of bush we came across family parties of them, and although the young were mostly full-grown and feathered, we saw several which were still covered with black down. they were found on all parts of the island, except on the summit of the sandy hill on the windward side. While uttering its remarkable note, his rail stands quite still and puffs out all its feathers; from what I observed I should say that the skin of the throat is also expanded. The notes are loud – a strange mixture of squealing, grunting and booming – and during its song the bird appears to be gradually collapsing, until at the end it is once more of normal size. I have heard our English water-rail utter a somewhat similar noise when near its nest, but its cries are never so loud as those of the Assumption rail. We caught two of them alive and brought them safely to England, and they are at the time I write living in the London Zoological Gardens.” [1]
During the early 20th century it was largely destroyed due to the guano mining and the native fauna and flora were severely affected, Abbott’s Sunbird is still surviving until today, but the endemic rail did not have as much luck. ***
The photo shows the Aldabra Rail (Dryolimnas aldabranus (Günther)), the last surviving flightless rail taxon in the whole Indian Ocean region; this form is still officially treated as a subspecies of the White-throated Rail but should actually considered as a full species.
[1] M. J. Nicoll: Three voyages of a naturalist: being an account of many little-known islands in three oceans visited by the “Valhalla” R.Y.S.. London: Witherby & Co. 1908 [2] Janske van de Crommenacker; Nancy Bunbury; Hazel A. Jackson; Lisa J. Nupen; Ross Wanless; Frauke Fleischer-Dogley; Jim J. Groombridge; Ben H. Warren: Rapid loss of flight in the Aldabra white-throated rail. PLoS ONE 15(11): 1-19. 2019
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
The La Digue Landsnail was described in 2003; it was restricted to the island of La Digue in the Seychelles.
The species is only known from subfossil material which had been found at about 15 cm below the surface; it is believed that this snail died out shortly after the Seychelles were colonized by human settlers in the late 18th century; the most likely reason for its disappearance is thought to have been human disturbance, especially forest clearance.
The shells reach heights of about 2.7 cm; their coloration was originally mahagony brown with a dark spiral band on the middle of the body whorl and a pink tint on the columella; however, most specimens that were found are bleached, thus it is unknown if the spiral band and the pinkish columella were normal characters. [1]
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References:
[1] J. Gerlach: New terrestrial Gastropoda (Mollusca) from Seychelles. Phelsuma 11: 39-51. 2003 [2] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Seychelles Parakeet was described in 1867, it was already very rare at that time and restricted to only two islands in the Seychelles, Mahé and Silhouette, it might formerly have occurred on all of the islands.
The species was closest related to the Alexandrine Parakeet (Palaeornis eupatria (L.)) from which it differed mainly by the lack of a rose-colored neck collar; it was formerly also merged with that species.
The Seychelles Parakeet was last recorded in 1883 when the last known specimen died in captivity, the species died out because it was heavily hunted for being a ‘pest’ to crops.
Marianne North, a botanical artist, depicted a live pair of this species on the island of Mahé when she visited the family of Dr. James Brooks, a colonial medical officer on the Seychelles. She also wrote some notes about these two birds:
“He and his Greek wife were very kind and hospitable in their offers to me. I went one day to their house, and painted their parrots, which came originally from Silhouette: queer, misshapen birds, with enormous beaks and patches of red and yellow badly put on, one of them having a black ring round its neck. Both were quite helplessly bullied by common pigeons, which came and ate up their food, while they jabbered in a melancholy way, and submitted. They had absolutely no tops to their heads, which perhaps accounted for their stupidity. They had a stand on the back verandah, where they slept and were fed. They were not tied up, but went and stole their own fruit off the neighbouring trees.” [1]
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References:
[1] Anthony S. Cheke: Animals depicted by Marianne North in her Seychelles paintings. Phelsuma 21: 47-57. 2013 [2] Michael P. Braun; Thomas Datzmann, Thomas Arndt; Matthias Reinschmidt; Heinz Schnittker; Norbert Bahr; Hedwig Sauer-Günth; Michael Wink: A molecular phylogeny of the genus Psittacula sensu lato (Aves: Psittaciformes: Psittacidae: Psittacula, Psittinus, Tanygnathus, †Mascarinus) with taxonomic implications. Zootaxa 4563(3): 547-562. 2019
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Depiction from: ‘Alfred and Edward Newton: On the Psittaci of the Mascarene Islands. The Ibis, ser. 3(6): 281-289. 1876’
The Marianne Milliped was described in 1896; it is only known from the damaged holotype that had been collected in 1892.
The species was apparently restricted to the small granite Marianne Island in the Seychelles Islands, a place that today is highly degraded; the milliped is now very likely extinct. [1]
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syn. Spirobolus alluaudi Brölemann
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach; Yuri Marusik: Arachnida and Myriapoda of the Seychelles islands. Siri Scientific Press, Manchester 2010
The Curieuse Landsnail was described in 2003; it is known only from scarce subfossil material, mainly shell fragments, that were found on the island of Curieuse in the Seychelles.
The species must have gone extinct already in the early 1800s due to forest clearings and extensive forest fires.
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References:
[1] J. Gerlach: New terrestrial Gastropoda (Mollusca) from Seychelles. Phelsuma 11: 39-51. 2003 [2] Justin Gerlach: Red Listing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
The Marianne White-eye was described in 1867, it was known only from Marianne Island in the Seychelles but may as well have occured on other islands within the island group including La Digue, Mahé, Praslin, and Silhouette.
The species was originally thougth to be a subspecies of the Mayotte White-eye (Zosterops mayottensisSchlegel) which it closely resembles, it is, however, more closely related to the Mascarene White-eye species and was restored to a full species in 2006.
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The species disappeared sometimes between 1870 and 1900, the reasons for its demise, however, appear to be unknown but very likely lay in habitat destruction through agricultural development.
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red List ing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
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(lower bird)
Depiction from: ‘G. E. Shelley: The birds of Africa, comprising all the species which occur in the Ethiopian region. London, published for the author by R.H. Porter (18 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W.) Vol. 2. 1900’
Small Seychelles Swallowtail (Papilio phorbanta ssp. nana)
The Small Seychelles Swallowtail was described in 1879; it was endemic to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean; it is apparently known from only two specimens, a male and a female, which were collected sometimes prior to 1880.
The Seychelles subspecies differed from the nominate form from Réunion by being approximately half their size.
This form is now clearly extinct; yet it may not even have been a distinct subspecies, because some entomologists think that the form was just accidently introduced from Réunion with the import of citrus plants, which are one of the known larval food plants of this species. The markedly small individuals found on the Seychelles may then probably just have been some kind of puny form, that for some unknown reason just stayed smaller than usual. [2]
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The following account refers to the nominate form which inhabits the island of Réunion.:
“Confined to Bourbon [Réunion], where it is known as P. disparilis, Boisd. Common, not to say abundant, on the coast and up to about 2,000 feet. I never saw a single specimen at 3,000 feet, and its distribution is no doubt determined by the food plant. It feeds on citron, and the larva has been figured and described by Vinson. It is no doubt unpalatable in the larval stage. The female is aberrant, and is an admirable example of what Scudder calls “colourational antigeny” in which it is the female that departs from the normal colouring of the group to which the species belongs. It is presumably a mimic of Euploea goudoti, and in such a small island as Réunion the exciting cause should not be difficult to discover. I may say fairly confidently that there is no bird now existing which makes any marked ravages among the butterflies. Indeed birds are conspicuous by their absence, and are as rare in Réunion as they are in France and Italy, and for the same reason; affording a marked contrast to Mauritius, where they are protected and consequently abundant.
I was informed, however, by Dr. Jacob, who has resided for some fifty years in Réunion, that at one time the now extinct “starling” (Fregilupus varius) was decidedly common, especially in those parts more particularly frequented by P. phorbanta, and, judging by the stuffed specimen in the St. Denys Museum, I should say that the bird was entirely insectivorous. I throw out the suggestion that it was this bird that was the main cause of this case of mimicry.” [1]
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[1] N. Manders: The butterflies of Mauritius and Bourbon. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 429-454. 1907
[2] James M. Lawrence: A short note on the biogeography of the rarely observed Seychelles butterflies. Phelsuma 23: 1-5. 2015
This species from the island of Mahé, Seychelles was discovered in 1894 (described in 1902), it was never recorded again, and thus is considered most probably extinct.
The genus contains only this one species.
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ocularium (on the left) and right palpus (on the right)
Depiction from ‘J. C. C. Loman: Neue aussereuropäische Opilioniden. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 16: 163-216. 1902’
The Seychelles Vernonia was endemic to the island of Mahé, Seychelles Islands, it is known only from the holotype, which had been collected in 1874 in the so called Forêt Noire, an area that appears to have been largely deforested since then.
The Seychelles Vernonia was a very small shrub, reaching only about 1,2 m in height.
The species was never found since 1874 and is clearly extinct.
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References:
[1] Justin Gerlach: Red List ing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012
Gardiner’s Giant Mite was described in 1912 based on specimens that were found in 1909 on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles where it inhabited the native forests at higher elevations.
“Male about 4 mm. in length, black-brown, not highly polished. Genital area in general design like that of H. longipes but with the prominences at its postero-lateral limits much more salient. Peritreme broadest in the middle and tapering to either end. Legs moderately long and slender and only sparsely clothed with hairs; leg 1 with the tarso-metatarsus of the same colour as the rest of the animal and only slightly dilated, and with a fairly strong spur under the distal end of the patella; tarsi of legs 2, 3, and 4 with three terminal spurs, two being more or less dorsal and the third lateral on the external side, and small conical spur on the under surface towards the distal end – very small on leg 4. Female about 4.5 mm., of the colour and general appearance of the male, but with the legs destitute of the patellar and infra-tarsal spurs. Genital area large, the median plate very broad, with sides almost rectilinear, and its anterior border a sinuous transverse line. Lateral plates very small and narrow; anterior plate very broad and shallow. Two ♂ and two ♀, taken in the jungle, Mahé, at an elevation of over 1200 ft. …” [1]
The species was never seen again and is considered extinct.
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syn. Holothyrus gardineri Warburton
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Depiction from: ‘Cecil Warburton: The Acarina of the Seychelles. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London Ser. 2 Vol. 15: 349-360. 1912-1913’
(not in copyright)
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References:
[1] Cecil Warburton: The Acarina of the Seychelles. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London Ser. 2 Vol. 15: 349-360. 1912-1913
The Malagasy Coucal (Centropus toulou (Müller)) occurs all over Madagascar, while two additional subspecies are known to inhabit some of the islands of the so-called Aldabra group of the Seychelles Islands, the Aldabra atoll and Assumption Island.
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The subspecies that once inhabited the small islet of Assumption was originally described in 1906 as a full species. The discoverer of that form, M. J. Nicholl, noted in 1908 in his book ‘Three Voyages of a Naturalist, being an account of many little-known islands in three oceans visited by the “Valhalla,” R.Y.S.’:
“We had not proceeded far before we heard the long bubbling note of a lark-heeled cuckoo, and soon found the bird sitting in a thick bush near its nest – a large domed structure built of dried grasses, and containing two perfectly white eggs. This “cuckoo”, which is, by the way, not a true cuckoo, builds its own nests and rears its own young. The Assumption species is closely allied to the one I have mentioned as seen in the Forêt d’Ambre [Madagascar], but is somewhat larger. Although they were extraordinary tame, we were unable to catch any of them alive, as they rarely left the thickest parts of the bushes.” [1]
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The island was already overrun by rats at this point, trees and bushes were felled for building houses and as firewood, and finally guano was quarried on the island, which led to the almost complete destruction of the native vegetation – and thus to the extinction of the local wildlife populations.
This was apparently also the last time when the Assumption Coucal was seen.
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References:
[1] M. J. Nicoll: Three Voyages of a Naturalist, being an account of many little-known islands in three oceans visited by the “Valhalla,” R.Y.S.. London: Witherby & Co. 1908
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Malagasy Coucal (Centropus toulou (Müller)); nominate form
Depiction from: ‘Alfred Grandidier: Histoire Physique, Naturelle et Politique de Madagascar. Paris: à l’Imprimerie Nationale 1836-1921’
A population of some sort of blue pigeons, which are otherwise known from several islands and island groups within the Indian Ocean, may once have existed on the Farquhar Islands, a group of three smaller atolls that belong to the outer islands of the Seychelles; this can be taken from an old account.:
“Jean de Nova i. e. Farquhar and Providence … like the Amirates, Coetivy and Alphonse are the resort of Millions of Birds of which, the Frigate Bird, the Fou, a beautiful small white gull, a variety of various coloured Gannet, and the Tropic Bird are the principle: In S. Pierre and Providence a species of small blue pigeon are in great abundance, and so seldom disturbed that they do not fly at man’s approach, but are knock’d down with Sticks, we found them excessively good eating, these birds build and nest on the Mapou tree and other Dwarf trees which cover the surface of the islands …” [1]
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These birds may have been identical to the Seychelles Blue Pigeon (Alectroenas pulcherrimus (Scopoli)) (see photo), or, probably more likely, might have represented a distinct taxon.
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References:
[1] D. R. Stoddart; C. W. Benson: An old record of a blue pigeon Alectroenas species and sea-birds on Farquhar and Providence. Atoll Research Bulletin 136: 35-36. 1970
