White-throated Rail

Overview

The white-throated rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri), also known as Cuvier's rail, is a fairly large species in the family Rallidae. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is the last living member of the genus Dryolimnas.

Identification

• Measures 30–33 cm in length, with males being larger than females.
• Features a dusky abdomen and thighs, distinguished by white plumage on the throat and undertail-coverts.
• The Aldabra subspecies is smaller, paler in colouration, and flightless.

Habitat

Resident in Madagascar, where the nominate subspecies is found, and breeding in the Seychelles, particularly on Aldabra Island. Natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and mangrove forests.

Diet

Feeds primarily on invertebrates, as well as the eggs and hatchlings of the green turtle. In coastal areas, the species is also known to drink salt water.

Did you know?

The Aldabra subspecies is believed to be the last flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. This population represents a rare instance of iterative evolution, having evolved to become almost identical to a previously extinct flightless ancestor after recolonising the atoll following rising sea levels.