The conservation status in 1982 of the Aldabra White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus

Abstract

SummaryThe Aldabra White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus is confined to Middle Island (c. 7,700 birds), lie Polymnie (c. 270) and De aux Cèdres (c. 80) on Aldabra Atoll (now a World Heritage Site) in the Seychelles. It uses all available terrestrial habitats, but chiefly occurs in scrub cover and particularly in the densest types, where leaf-litter (and hence litter fauna) is richest. Its extinction on Assumption, Astove and Cosmoledo is attributable to widespread habitat loss and disturbance, and to human utilization as food; the extent to which rats and cats affect the form, which is flightless, is debatable.