• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category

Although this species remains very poorly-known, there is increasing evidence that it is widespread in mangrove and sago swamps which are not significantly threatened by habitat loss or degradation. Its tolerance of logged and degraded forest is unknown but probably high given its ecology. It is hunted but there are very low human population densities across most of its range. Given its suspected low rate of decline and its large geographical range, it is no longer considered to approach the threshold for Vulnerable under any criterion and as such has been downlisted to Least Concern.

Population justification
The population size has not been estimated, but the species has been described as locally common, especially where sago is harvested (Gregory 1996, Taylor and van Perlo 1998, I. Woxvold pers. comm. per G. Dutson in litt. 2016).

Trend justification
There are no data on population trends; however, deforestation and trapping are suspected to be causing a slow decline.

Megacrex inepta is endemic to the lowlands of northern and southern New Guinea (Papua, formerly Irian Jaya, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). There are few records, but it is reported to be locally common, especially where sago is harvested (Gregory 1996, Taylor and van Perlo 1998, I. Woxvold pers. comm. per G. Dutson in litt. 2016). 

It inhabits lowland forest, especially wet thickets, swamp forest and mangroves and feeds on insects (Pratt and Beehler 2015).

Although flightless, it appears to be able to fight off attacks from dogs and to climb into trees to escape predators (Ripley 1964, Coates 1985). It is hunted in some areas, sometimes targeted specifically with sago lures, but there are very low human population densities across most of its range. It may be affected by feral pigs. Lowland forests across its range are being slowly logged and cleared, with 1.3% of forest lost plus 2.9% logged in the mainland coastal provinces of Papua New Guinea between 2002 and 2014 (Bryan and Shearman 2015).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct field surveys and interviews in villages to better understand its distribution, population density and threats. Use awareness programmes to discourage hunting. Effectively protect large areas of lowland rainforest.

Text account compilers
Derhé, M., O'Brien, A., Mahood, S., Dutson, G., Benstead, P., North, A., Wheatley, H.

Contributors
Woxvold, I., Leary, T., Gregory, P., Dutson, G., Bishop, K.D.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: New Guinea Flightless Rail Megacrex inepta. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/new-guinea-flightless-rail-megacrex-inepta on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.