Niue rail explained

The Niue rail (Gallirallus huiatua) is an extinct species of flightless bird in the Rallidae, or rail family.

History

The rail was described in 2000 from subfossil bones collected in January 1995 by paleozoologist Trevor Worthy at the Anakuli cave site in Hakupu village, on the island of Niue in West Polynesia. The age range of about 5300 to 3600 year BP for fossil material collected from the site predates human settlement of the island.^[1]

Etymology

The specific epithet comes from the Niuean words hui (bones) and atua (of the dead).^[1]

See also

• List of birds of Niue

Notes and References

1. Steadman, David W. . Worthy, Trevor H. . Anderson, Atholl J. . Walter, Richard. . amp . 2000-06-01 . New species and records of birds from prehistoric sites on Niue, southwest Pacific. . Wilson Bulletin . 112 . 2 . 165–186 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070524032121/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-63789264.html. dead. 2007-05-24. 10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0165:NSAROB]2.0.CO;2. 86588636 . (subscription required)