Réunion rail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Réunion rail
Conservation status
Extinct  (yes) (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Gruiformes
Family:	Rallidae
Genus:	Dryolimnas
Species:	†D. augusti
Binomial name
†Dryolimnas augusti Mourer-Chauviré, Bour, Ribes & Moutou, 1999
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The Réunion rail (Dryolimnas augusti) was a type of bird called a rail. It is now extinct. This bird lived only on the island of Réunion, which is part of the Mascarenes islands. It was also known as Dubois' wood-rail.

The scientific name, Dryolimnas augusti, honors a French poet named Auguste de Villèle. He loved the history of Réunion. His kindness helped many naturalists explore the island's caves.

Finding Clues: Subfossil Bones

Scientists found the bones of the Réunion rail in 1996. They were discovered in a cave on Réunion called Caverne de la Tortue. These bones are called subfossils. They are very old remains that have not fully turned into rock.

In 1999, scientists officially described the bird using these bones. They found many different parts. These included leg bones (tarso-metatarsi, femora, pedal phalanxes), backbones (vertebrae, sacrum), and wing bones (coracoid, humeri, ulna). They also found a piece of its lower jaw.

What Did It Look Like?

The bones show that the Réunion rail was related to other rails. These include the white-throated rail and the Aldabra rail. Its leg bones were large and strong. This suggests it might have been the biggest bird in its group, the Dryolimnas genus.

The Réunion rail was likely about the size of a common moorhen. This is a medium-sized water bird. Scientists believe it could not fly. Its wing bones were small compared to its leg bones. This is similar to the Aldabra rail, which also cannot fly.

Old Stories and Its Disappearance

There is only one old report that might talk about the Réunion rail. A traveler named Sieur Dubois wrote about it in 1674. He called it the "Râle des Bois," which means "wood-rail."

It's important not to confuse this bird with another one. The Réunion swamphen was called "Oiseau Bleu" (Blue Bird) in the same report. The Réunion swamphen was described as being as large as the Réunion ibis. The Réunion rail was much smaller.

Because Dubois' report is the only historical mention, scientists think the Réunion rail became extinct quite early. It likely disappeared in the late 1600s.