Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species was endemic to the island of Rodrigues, Mauritius, but is now Extinct due to logging of its habitat and the effects of introduced species. It was last recorded in 1726.
Population justification
None remain.
Trend justification
The exact cause of decline of this species is uncertain. It was observed from 1691-93 (Leguat 1708) and in 1725-26 (Tafforet 1726 in Hume 2017), but was not recorded in 1761 (Pingré 1763), and so likely went extinct within this time range (Hume 2017). The species was historically observed to live in trees (Tafforet 1726 in Hume 2017) and likely nested in tree holes, suggesting deforestation was the primary cause of declines (Hume 2017). However, introduced cats and possibly rats also likely contributed to its extinction (Hume 2017).
Mascarenotus murivorus was described by a number of early travellers (with the last being Tafforet in 1726) as endemic to Rodrigues, Mauritius (Cheke 1987). The reports have been corroborated by the discovery of a number of bones (Cowles 1987), but the species has only recently been assigned to a genus (Mourer-Chauviré et al. 1994).
Nothing is known, though it is likely to have inhabited dense and remote forests, nesting in tree-holes (Hume 2017). Historical observations suggest they fed on lizards and small birds (Tafforet 1726 in Hume 2017).
As a presumably forest dependent species that nested in tree-holes, severe deforestation was likely the primary cause of its extinction (Hume et al. 2013, 2014). However, introduced predators such as rats and cats also likely played a role in its extinction (Hume 2017).
Text account compilers
Khwaja, N., Richardson, L., Brooks, T., Mahood, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rodrigues Owl Mascarenotus murivorus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rodrigues-owl-mascarenotus-murivorus on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.