Bar-winged rail explained

The bar-winged rail (Hypotaenidia poeciloptera) is an extinct species of bird in the family Rallidae. It was endemic to Fiji and was last collected ca 1890 in Viti Levu. The species was identified from twelve 19th century specimens, some of which are known to be in Boston, London and New York. The last unconfirmed sighting of this bird was in 1973.

Fossil remains dating back to the late Pleistocene or early Holocene are known from some caves in Fiji.[1]

Description

It was a flightless island ground-nesting forest/freshwater swamp dweller and is believed to have disappeared after the introduction of the mongoose and cats to the islands.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Worthy. Trevor H.. 2004-09-01. The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus and species. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 34. 3. 295–314. 10.1080/03014223.2004.9517768. 2004JRSNZ..34..295W . 129705107. 0303-6758.