Ibiza Rail

The Ibiza Rail (Rallus eivissensis ) is an extinct Rallenart that was endemic to the belonging to Ibiza and Formentera island of Ibiza. The specific epithet refers to Ibiza, the Catalan name for Ibiza.

Features

The Ibiza Rail 2005 was described on the basis of 161 bone fragments / Holocene deposits in the fossil deposit at Santa Agnès de Pouàs It corona were found in the northwest of Ibiza between 1988 and 1993 in the Late Pleistocene. She was closely related to the Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus ), but the body shape was a bit stocky and plump. The relatively small wings allow the conclusion that this Rail was barely airworthy. The legs were short and robust. In relation to skull size, the beak was slightly shorter than that of the water rail.

In the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene in the Pitiuses were characterized by a diverse avifauna. Predation did not exist, since mammals and reptiles were missing on the islands. Therefore, it could develop an island form of the Water Rail with a very limited flying machine to Ibiza.

Extinction

The Ibiza - Rail is the first endemic species of Ibiza and Formentera, which is extinct in the Holocene. The age of the bones found is dated to 5300-16700 years prior to AD. Due to the presumably small population and limited flight ability of Ibiza Rail extinction during the early colonization of Ibiza in the period 4350-1880 BC, is considered likely to occur.