Dryolimnas Explained

The genus Dryolimnas comprises birds in the rail family. The Réunion rail, a member of this genus, became extinct in the 17th century. The white-throated rail of Aldabra is the last surviving flightless bird in the western Indian Ocean.^[1] They are mostly found on Malabar Island, but can also be found on Polymnieli Island and other islands.

Though much larger, the skeletons of these rails show similarities to the rails of the genus Lewinia. Therefore, the two genera were lumped at times. This has been supported by DNA evidence, which finds strong support for a clade containing Crex, Lewinina, Dryolimnas, and the Snoring rail.^[2]

Species

• White-throated rail or Cuvier's rail, Dryolimnas cuvieri
  • Aldabra white-throated rail, Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus
  • Assumption white-throated rail, Dryolimnas cuvieri abbotti - extinct (early 20th century)
• Réunion rail, Dryolimnas augusti - extinct (late 17th century)
• Cheke's wood rail, Dryolimnas chekei - extinct (mid 17th century)

External links

• Dryolimnas augusti

Notes and References

1. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1971RSPTB.260..529P The White-Throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri on Aldabra
2. Garcia-R.. Juan C.. Gibb. Gillian C.. Trewick. Steve A.. December 2014. Deep global evolutionary radiation in birds: Diversification and trait evolution in the cosmopolitan bird family Rallidae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. en. 81. 96–108. 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.09.008. 25255711 . 2014MolPE..81...96G .