EX
Red Rail Aphanapteryx bonasia



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
Brooks, T. 2000. Extinct species. In: BirdLife International (ed.), Threatened Birds of the World, pp. 701-708. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona and Cambridge, U.K.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
D D D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Extinct
2016 Extinct
2012 Extinct
2008 Extinct
2004 Extinct
2000 Extinct
1994 Extinct
1988 Extinct
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency unknown
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 0 mature individuals good estimated -
Population trend - - -
Generation length 2.99 years - - -

Population justification: The species is considered Extinct.

Trend justification: The species is known to be Extinct. Several historical accounts of the species through the 17th century stated the ease at which the species could be captured, due to its apparent attraction to the colour red (Hume 2017). However, the species persisted until the end the of the 17th century (Hume 2017). They were still hunted on a daily basis through the 1680s and 90s (Hume et al. 2004), but after the introduction of cats to Mauritius around this time (Cheke and Hume 2008), they soon became rare, being reported as such in 1693 (Leguat 1708), this being the last account of the species.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Mauritius extinct native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Unknown possible unset
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Whole (>90%) Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Unknown Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Unknown Unknown Past Impact
Stresses
Species disturbance, Competition, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red Rail Aphanapteryx bonasia. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-rail-aphanapteryx-bonasia on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.