Roviana Rail

The Rovianaralle ( Gallirallus rovianae ) is a surviving flightless or poorly flying Rail from the New Georgia archipelago in the Solomon Islands. It was rediscovered 1972-1976. Of the locals it is called in their language as " Kitikete ".

Description

It is a medium-sized Rail, whose plumage is similar to that of the banded Rail ( Gallirallus phillipinensis ). Also in beak size and body size, it is similar to this, but has much longer foot bones. The top of the Rovianaralle is unmarked maroon, while the underside is conspicuously striped. The ocher or reddish chest resembles that of the Wekaralle and the banded Rail and Guamralle. The wings are like the back but maroon have eight small white spots on flight feathers. The Rovianaralle making it less noticeable drawn as the banded Rail, particularly where the stripes on the wings and under the tail and face markings are greatly reduced, while the back has lost any subscription.

Dissemination

It is known from the island of New Georgia and the four neighboring islands Kolombangara, Kohinggo, Wana Wana and Rendova. Further populations could be on Vangunu and Tetepare. These islands were in the last ice age, when sea level was 100-150 m lower than today, connected to each other. The Rail is closely related to the banded Rail and Guamralle (G. owstonii ) and the Wake - Rail ( G. wakensis ) are very similar, which is due to convergent evolution.

Etymology

The epithet " rovianae " is derived from the language " Roviana " who speak the inhabitants of the islands on which the Rail was found.

Source

• Jared Diamond: A new species of rail from the solomon islands and convergent evolution of insular flightlessness. Vol 108, no. 3, July - September 1991

Weblink

• Gallirallus rovianae in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2013.2. Posted by: . BirdLife International, 2012 Retrieved on February 6, 2014

• Rail birds