Réunion Swamphen
Encyclopedia
The Réunion Swamphen, Réunion Gallinule or Oiseau bleu (Porphyrio coerulescens) is a hypothetical species of extinct rail
from Réunion
, Mascarenes until now only known from reports of travellers.
It is quite certain that such a bird once was present on the island. Six reports attest to its existence, and the genus
Porphyrio is known as a colonizer of oceanic islands, having evolved into many local endemic
species, of which only the Takahē
is still found to be extant nowadays. Many later authors assume that this bird was flightless, but the 1674 statement of Dubois is best understood thus that they were unwilling rather than incapable of using flight as a means of escape; also, Dubois' report is confusing in some other ways, suggesting that he mixed up some reports on the "Solitaire"
with those of the oiseau bleu. At any rate, the bird was a bit larger than a chicken, or between a Purple Swamphen
and a takahē in size, and of entirely dull blue coloration, with a red beak and feet.
, the high plateau of Réunion between the Piton des Neiges
and the Piton de la Fournaise
, from 1700 on at least (Dubois gives no locality information, but all other authors restrict the bird to the plateau). The missionary Père Brown's testimony of 1724 is generally believed to be the last unequivocal record of the bird, but an anonymous British naval officer reports stories about birds limited to the high plateau that can be killed with sticks in 1763. The various reports disagree about whether this bird was considered good eating; most species of Porphyrio are generally considered to have a rather disagreeable taste. Especially in the light of Feuilley's 1705 report, it seems that adult birds were not usually hunted at least part of the year. This, and the remoteness of its habitat, perhaps explains why the birds were able to persist for longer than most other Réunion endemics, which were extinct by 1700. Since the 1763 report is very unspecific and could as well refer to petrel
s or shearwater
s, it is generally assumed that the Réunion Swamphen was extinct by 1730. As the area where it occurred was not yet being cleared for cultivation, introduced predators and hunting by escaped slaves who took to the mountains are obviously the reasons for its disappearance.
In November 1974, it was attempted to find possible fossil localities on the Plaine des Cafres. No caves or other promising locations were found, and it was determined that the attempt to prove the existence of this bird would have to wait pending a more thorough mapping of the area.
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
from Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
, Mascarenes until now only known from reports of travellers.
It is quite certain that such a bird once was present on the island. Six reports attest to its existence, and the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Porphyrio is known as a colonizer of oceanic islands, having evolved into many local endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
species, of which only the Takahē
Takahe
The Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898...
is still found to be extant nowadays. Many later authors assume that this bird was flightless, but the 1674 statement of Dubois is best understood thus that they were unwilling rather than incapable of using flight as a means of escape; also, Dubois' report is confusing in some other ways, suggesting that he mixed up some reports on the "Solitaire"
Réunion Sacred Ibis
The Réunion Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius, is an extinct bird species that was native to the island of Réunion. It is probably the same bird discovered by Portuguese sailors there in 1613...
with those of the oiseau bleu. At any rate, the bird was a bit larger than a chicken, or between a Purple Swamphen
Purple Swamphen
The Purple Swamphen , also known as the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Pūkeko or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae . From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also known as the Sultana Bird...
and a takahē in size, and of entirely dull blue coloration, with a red beak and feet.
Extinction
The bird is attested to have exclusively occurred on the Plaine des CafresPlaine des Cafres
La Plaine des Cafres is a plateau on Réunion Island, one of the French volcanic islands in the Mascarene Archipelago in the southwestern Indian Ocean...
, the high plateau of Réunion between the Piton des Neiges
Piton des Neiges
The Piton des Neiges is a massive 3,069 m shield volcano on Réunion, one of the French volcanic islands in the Mascarene Archipelago in the southwestern Indian Ocean. It is located about east of Madagascar. Piton des Neiges is the highest point on Réunion and is considered to be the highest...
and the Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise : "Peak of the Furnace" is a shield volcano on the eastern side of Réunion island in the Indian Ocean. It is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, along with Kīlauea in the Hawaiian Islands , Stromboli, Etna and Mount Erebus in Antarctica...
, from 1700 on at least (Dubois gives no locality information, but all other authors restrict the bird to the plateau). The missionary Père Brown's testimony of 1724 is generally believed to be the last unequivocal record of the bird, but an anonymous British naval officer reports stories about birds limited to the high plateau that can be killed with sticks in 1763. The various reports disagree about whether this bird was considered good eating; most species of Porphyrio are generally considered to have a rather disagreeable taste. Especially in the light of Feuilley's 1705 report, it seems that adult birds were not usually hunted at least part of the year. This, and the remoteness of its habitat, perhaps explains why the birds were able to persist for longer than most other Réunion endemics, which were extinct by 1700. Since the 1763 report is very unspecific and could as well refer to petrel
Petrel
Petrels are tube-nosed seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. The common name does not indicate relationship beyond that point, as "petrels" occur in three of the four families within that group...
s or shearwater
Shearwater
Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 30 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus...
s, it is generally assumed that the Réunion Swamphen was extinct by 1730. As the area where it occurred was not yet being cleared for cultivation, introduced predators and hunting by escaped slaves who took to the mountains are obviously the reasons for its disappearance.
In November 1974, it was attempted to find possible fossil localities on the Plaine des Cafres. No caves or other promising locations were found, and it was determined that the attempt to prove the existence of this bird would have to wait pending a more thorough mapping of the area.