Rodrigues rail

Rodrigues rail
Subfossil bones described in 1879, including two skulls, a pelvis, and limb bones
Conservation status
Extinct (mid-18th century)  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Gruiformes
Family:	Rallidae
Genus:	†Erythromachus Milne-Edwards, 1874
Species:	†E. leguati
Binomial name
†Erythromachus leguati Milne-Edwards, 1874
Location of Rodrigues
Synonyms
List Aphanapteryx leguati Günther & Newton, 1879 Miserythrus leguati Newton, 1874 Erythromachus leguata Fürbringer, 1888 (lapsus) Aphanopteryx leguati Rothschild, 1907 (lapsus) Myserythrus leguati Hachisuka, 1953 (lapsus) Erthyromachus leguati Brodkorb, 1967 (lapsus)

The Rodrigues rail (Erythromachus leguati), also known as Leguat's gelinote or Leguat's rail, is an extinct species of the rail family that was endemic to the Mascarene island of Rodrigues. The bird was first documented from life by two accounts from 1691–93 and 1725–26. Subfossil remains were later discovered and correlated with the old accounts in 1874, and the species was named E. leguati in Leguat's honour. It is generally kept in its own genus, Erythromachus, but has sometimes been assigned to the genus Aphanapteryx along with its close relative the red rail (A. bonasia) of Mauritius; their relationship with other rails is unclear.

The Rodrigues rail was about 35 cm (14 in) long and weighed at least 500 g (18 oz). It was described as having grey plumage, a red beak, red legs, and a naked red patch around the eye. The beak was long and curved downwards. It was flightless and fed on tortoise eggs. It was described as being attracted to red objects, which humans exploited while hunting it. The Rodrigues rail is believed to have become extinct in the mid-18th century mainly because of predation by introduced cats and hunting.