The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus and species

Trevor H. Worthy

doi:10.1080/03014223.2004.9517768

The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus and species

Trevor H. Worthy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A new genus and species of Gallirallus‐like flightless extinct rail is described from deposits in western Viti Levu, Fiji, south‐west Pacific. It is distinguished by having a longer, more decurved bill, than all other rails. Fossils of the barred‐wing rail Nesoclopeus poicilopterus (Hautlaub, 1866) are reported from eastern parts of Viti Levu and several fossil bones suggest the former presence of a probable gallinule. A total of seven rails in seven genera were, therefore, sympatric on Viti Levu in the immediate prehuman period.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	295-314
Number of pages	20
Journal	Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Volume	34
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.2004.9517768
Publication status	Published - 2004
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Fiji
Late Quaternary fossils
New genus
New species
Rails
Rallidae

Access to Document

10.1080/03014223.2004.9517768Licence: In Copyright

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Cite this

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title = "The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus and species",

abstract = "A new genus and species of Gallirallus‐like flightless extinct rail is described from deposits in western Viti Levu, Fiji, south‐west Pacific. It is distinguished by having a longer, more decurved bill, than all other rails. Fossils of the barred‐wing rail Nesoclopeus poicilopterus (Hautlaub, 1866) are reported from eastern parts of Viti Levu and several fossil bones suggest the former presence of a probable gallinule. A total of seven rails in seven genera were, therefore, sympatric on Viti Levu in the immediate prehuman period.",

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AB - A new genus and species of Gallirallus‐like flightless extinct rail is described from deposits in western Viti Levu, Fiji, south‐west Pacific. It is distinguished by having a longer, more decurved bill, than all other rails. Fossils of the barred‐wing rail Nesoclopeus poicilopterus (Hautlaub, 1866) are reported from eastern parts of Viti Levu and several fossil bones suggest the former presence of a probable gallinule. A total of seven rails in seven genera were, therefore, sympatric on Viti Levu in the immediate prehuman period.

KW - Fiji

KW - Late Quaternary fossils

KW - New genus

KW - New species

KW - Rails

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