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Vitirallus

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Vitirallus
Temporal range: Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Vitirallus
T. H. Worthy, 2004
Species:
V. watlingi
Binomial name
Vitirallus watlingi

Vitirallus watlingi, the Fiji rail or Viti Levu rail, was a prehistoric flightless bird from Fiji, and is the only species in the genus Vitirallus. Vitirallus watlingi is thought to have been about the same size as the bar-winged rail (Nesoclopeus poecilopterus) but with a very elongated and slender bill.[1]

The genus name refers to Viti Levu, the island of origin in Fiji; rallus is Latin for rail. The species name watlingi is after the ornithologist Dr Dick Watling.[1]

Remains of this species were discovered in September 1998 at Viti Levu, the largest island in the Republic of Fiji. It was first described by Trevor H. Worthy in 2004.[1] The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Worthy, Trevor H. (2004). "The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus species". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 34 (3): 295–314. Bibcode:2004JRSNZ..34..295W. doi:10.1080/03014223.2004.9517768. S2CID 129705107.
  2. ^ "Vitirallus watlingi; holotype". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 18 July 2010.