The

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

''Dryolimnas'' comprises birds in the

rail Rail or rails may refer to: Rail transport *Rail transport and related matters *Railway track or railway lines, the running surface of a railway Arts and media Film * ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini * ''Rail'' (1967 fil ...

family. The

Réunion rail The Réunion rail (''Dryolimnas augusti''), also known as Dubois' wood-rail, is an extinct rail species which was endemic to the Mascarene island of Réunion. The scientific name commemorates French poet Auguste de Villèle (1858-1943) whose inte ...

, a member of this genus, became

extinct Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...

in the 17th century. The white-throated rail of

Aldabra Aldabra, the world's second-largest coral atoll (the largest is Kiritimati), is located east of the continent of Africa. It is part of the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that are part of the Outer Islands (Seychelles), Outer Islands ...

is the last surviving

flightless bird Flightless birds are birds that cannot Bird flight, fly, as they have, through evolution, lost the ability to. There are over 60 extant species, including the well-known ratites (ostriches, emus, cassowary, cassowaries, Rhea (bird), rheas, an ...

in the western Indian Ocean. They are mostly found on

Malabar Island Aldabra, the world's second-largest coral atoll (the largest is Kiritimati), is located east of the continent of Africa. It is part of the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that are part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, with a ...

, but can also be found on

Polymnieli Island Aldabra, the world's second-largest coral atoll (the largest is Kiritimati), is located east of the continent of Africa. It is part of the Aldabra Group of islands in the Indian Ocean that are part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, with a ...

and other islands. Though much larger, the skeletons of these rails show similarities to the rails of the genus ''

Lewinia ''Lewinia'' is a genus of birds in the family Rallidae. The genus was erected by the English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1855 with Lewin's rail ''Lewinia pectoralis'' as the type species. The genus name is from a synonym of the type specie ...

''. Therefore, the two genera were lumped at times. This has been supported by DNA evidence, which finds strong support for a clade containing ''

Crex The corn crake, corncrake or landrail (''Crex crex'') is a bird in the Rallidae, rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and bird migration, migrates to Africa for the Northern Hemisphere's winter. It is a medium ...

'', ''Lewinina'', ''Dryolimnas'', and the Snoring rail.

Species

White-throated rail The white-throated rail (''Dryolimnas cuvieri'') or Cuvier's rail, is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. Distribution It is found in the Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, and Seychelles. Taxonomy The nominate subspecies is found in Madaga ...

or Cuvier's rail, ''Dryolimnas cuvieri'' **Aldabra white-throated rail, ''Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus'' **Assumption white-throated rail, ''Dryolimnas cuvieri abbotti'' -

(early 20th century) *

, ''Dryolimnas augusti'' - extinct (late 17th century) *

Cheke's wood rail Cheke's wood rail (''Dryolimnas chekei''), also known as Sauzier's wood rail, is an extinct species of rail that was endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius. It was described by British ornithologist Julian P. Hume in 2019, and the name hon ...

, ''Dryolimnas chekei'' - extinct (mid 17th century)

Notes

References

External links

Dryolimnas augusti
Bird genera Bird genera with one living species Rallidae {{Gruiformes-stub