Canary Islands Quail

The Canary Islands Quail (Coturnix gomerae ) is an extinct quail species that was native to the Canary Islands. In 1993 she was described on the basis of subfossil bones that were found in 1985 in the cave Bujero del Silo on La Gomera. A total of 78 bones from La Gomera are known, representing at least 14 individuals. Later studies revealed, however, that it was also common on the islands of Fuerteventura, Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro.

Features

However, they had smaller wings longer and sturdier legs than the quail (Coturnix coturnix ) and was probably only due airworthy. My weight was about 150 grams. The humerus of C. gomerae and C. coturnix are essentially identical. The distal end of the bone is constructed less robust in C. gomerae. The ulna of C. gomerae is compared with the arched of C. coturnix more, shorter and stronger. The diaphysis and the proximal and distal bone ends are gomerae in C. broader. The thigh bones are longer than in the quail in the Canary Islands Quail 10.85 percent, while the diaphysis and the distal and proximal ends of the bones are 30.08, 15.62 and 23.34 percent wider. The tibiotarsus of C. gomerae is also longer and more robust.

Extinction

When spread cats and rats in the Canary Islands in the 15th century, they sealed the extinction of the Canary Islands Quail.