Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species was known from Mauritius, but went Extinct by the end of the 17th century due to ongoing hunting and the introduction of cats.
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.
Aphanapteryx bonasia was endemic to Mauritius from where it is known from a number of travellers' accounts and illustrations (Cheke 1987), and from numerous bones (Cowles 1987).
Very little is known about the species. A historical account suggests that the species forages in fallen leaves for worms (Hume and Winters 2016). Another report suggests they also fed on molluscs (Hachisuka 1953). The species was likely an opportunistic omnivore (Hume 2017), that inhabited forest.
Several historical accounts report the ease at which the species was hunted (Hume 2017), which was likely the primary cause of its decline. However, the species did persist despite ongoing hunting through the 17th century, as well as likely impacts from introduced animals (monkeys, pigs, and rats; Hume 2017). The introduction of cats towards the end of the century was reportedly disastrous (Cheke and Hume 2008), and the species was extinct by the end of the century.
Text account compilers
Richardson, L., Khwaja, N., Brooks, T., Mahood, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red Rail Aphanapteryx bonasia. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-rail-aphanapteryx-bonasia on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.