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{{short description|Extinct species of bird}}
{{short description|Extinct species of bird}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{speciesbox
{{speciesbox
| image = Mundia.elpenor.jpg
| image = Ascension_crake.svg
| image_caption = Drawing by Peter Mundy, 1656
| image_caption = Drawing by Peter Mundy, 1656
| status = EX
| status = EX
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22728746/0 |title=''Mundia elpenor'' |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year=2012 |access-date=26 November 2013|ref=harv}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Mundia elpenor'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22728746A94995240 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22728746A94995240.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Mundia
| genus = Mundia
| parent_authority = Bourne, Ashmole, & Simmons, 2003
| parent_authority = Bourne, Ashmole, & Simmons, 2003
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| authority = ([[Storrs L. Olson|Olson]], 1973)
| authority = ([[Storrs L. Olson|Olson]], 1973)
}}
}}
[[File:Ascension crake.png|thumb|left|Alternate version of the drawing]]
[[File:Ascension crake skull.png|thumb|left|Drawing of the skull]]
⚫
The '''Ascension crake''' (''Mundia elpenor'') is an extinct flightless bird that previously lived on [[Ascension Island]] in the [[South Atlantic Ocean]]. It was declared extinct by Groombridge in 1994; [[BirdLife International]] confirmed this in 2000 and 2004. It is a member of the family [[Rallidae]].


⚫
The '''Ascension crake''' ('''''Mundia elpenor''''') is an extinct flightless bird that previously lived on [[Ascension Island]] in the [[South Atlantic Ocean]]. Like many other flightless birds on isolated islands, it was a [[Rail (bird)|rail]]. It was declared extinct by Groombridge in 1994; [[BirdLife International]] confirmed this in 2000 and 2004.
⚫
The bird was [[endemic]] to Ascension Island. Numerous [[subfossil]] bones of the bird have been found; [[Peter Mundy]] gave an account of the bird and made a sketch of it in 1656. It was described by Mundy as a "strange kind of fowle, much bigger then our sterlings ore stares: collour gray or dappled, white and blacke feathers intermixed, eies red like rubies, wings very imperfitt, such as wherewith they cannot raise themselves from the ground. They were taken running, in which they are exceeding swift, helping themselves a little with their wings (as it is said of the estridge), shortt billed, cloven footed, thatt can neither fly nor swymme. " It most likely lived in the near-desert areas of the island and primarily ate [[sooty tern]] (''Sterna fuscata'') eggs. It is probable that it became extinct after rats were introduced to the island in the 18th century, but it may have survived until the introduction of feral cats in 1815.


The bird was [[endemic]] to Ascension Island. Numerous [[subfossil]] bones of the bird have been found in deposits at the base of vertical [[fumaroles]]. [[Peter Mundy]], a 17th-century merchant and traveler gave an account of the bird and made a sketch of it when he visited Ascension Island in June 1656. It was described by Mundy as:
⚫
The bird was regarded by Storrs Olson as a relative of ''[[Atlantisia rogersi]]'', but recent analysis (Bourne et al., 2003) has shown that the differences between the two are greater than previously appreciated. The new genus ''Mundia'' (named after the discoverer Peter Mundy) was created in 2003.

⚫
{{Blockquote|text=a strange kind of fowle, much bigger then our sterlings ore stares: collour gray or dappled, white and blacke feathers intermixed, eies red like rubies, wings very imperfitt, such as wherewith they cannot raise themselves from the ground. They were taken running, in which they are exceeding swift, helping themselves a little with their wings (as it is said of the estridge), shortt billed, cloven footed, that can neither fly nor swymme.|title=|source=}}It most likely lived in the near-desert areas of the island and primarily ate [[sooty tern]] (''Sterna fuscata'') eggs. It is probable that it became extinct after rats were introduced to the island in the 18th century, but it may have survived until the introduction of feral cats in 1815.

⚫
The bird was regarded by Storrs Olson as a relative of ''[[Atlantisia rogersi]]'',<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Olson|first=Storrs L.|date=1973|title=Evolution of the rails of the South Atlantic islands (Aves: Rallidae)|journal=Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology|issue=152|pages=1–53|doi=10.5479/si.00810282.152|issn=0081-0282}}</ref> but recent analysis (Bourne et al., 2003) has shown that the differences between the two are greater than previously appreciated. The new genus ''Mundia'' (named after the discoverer Peter Mundy) was created in 2003.


==References==
==References==
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*[http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=30092&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
*[http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=30092&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
*del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. ''[[Handbook of Birds of the World]]'' Vol. 3: 140, 175. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|84-87334-20-2}}.
*del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. ''[[Handbook of Birds of the World]]'' Vol. 3: 140, 175. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|84-87334-20-2}}.
* Bourne, W. R. P., Ashmole, N. P. & Simmons K. E. L.: ''A new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail from Ascension Island, central tropical Atlantic Ocean'' in ''Ardea''; 91, Heft 1, 2003: pp.&nbsp;45–51 [http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/4493/1/Nycticorax_olsoni.pdf PDF fulltext]
* Bourne, W. R. P., Ashmole, N. P. & Simmons K. E. L.: ''A new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail from Ascension Island, central tropical Atlantic Ocean'' in ''Ardea''; 91, Heft 1, 2003: pp.&nbsp;45–51 [http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/4493/1/Nycticorax_olsoni.pdf PDF fulltext]


{{Taxonbar|from=Q721761}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q721761}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:crake, Ascension}}
[[Category:Rallidae|Ascension crake]]
[[Category:Rallidae|Ascension crake]]
[[Category:Fauna of Ascension Island|†]]
[[Category:Birds of Ascension Island|†]]
[[Category:Extinct flightless birds]]
[[Category:Extinct flightless birds]]
[[Category:Extinct animals of Africa]]
[[Category:Extinct animals of Africa]]
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[[Category:Extinct birds of Atlantic islands]]
[[Category:Extinct birds of Atlantic islands]]
[[Category:Species made extinct by human activities]]
[[Category:Species made extinct by human activities]]
[[Category:Endemic birds of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha|†]]




Latest revision as of 05:44, 7 October 2024

Ascension crake
Drawing by Peter Mundy, 1656
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: †Mundia
Bourne, Ashmole, & Simmons, 2003
Species:
†M. elpenor
Binomial name
†Mundia elpenor
(Olson, 1973)
Drawing of the skull

The Ascension crake (Mundia elpenor) is an extinct flightless bird that previously lived on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Like many other flightless birds on isolated islands, it was a rail. It was declared extinct by Groombridge in 1994; BirdLife International confirmed this in 2000 and 2004.

The bird was endemic to Ascension Island. Numerous subfossil bones of the bird have been found in deposits at the base of vertical fumaroles. Peter Mundy, a 17th-century merchant and traveler gave an account of the bird and made a sketch of it when he visited Ascension Island in June 1656. It was described by Mundy as:

a strange kind of fowle, much bigger then our sterlings ore stares: collour gray or dappled, white and blacke feathers intermixed, eies red like rubies, wings very imperfitt, such as wherewith they cannot raise themselves from the ground. They were taken running, in which they are exceeding swift, helping themselves a little with their wings (as it is said of the estridge), shortt billed, cloven footed, that can neither fly nor swymme.

It most likely lived in the near-desert areas of the island and primarily ate sooty tern (Sterna fuscata) eggs. It is probable that it became extinct after rats were introduced to the island in the 18th century, but it may have survived until the introduction of feral cats in 1815.

The bird was regarded by Storrs Olson as a relative of Atlantisia rogersi,[2] but recent analysis (Bourne et al., 2003) has shown that the differences between the two are greater than previously appreciated. The new genus Mundia (named after the discoverer Peter Mundy) was created in 2003.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Mundia elpenor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22728746A94995240. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22728746A94995240.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Olson, Storrs L. (1973). "Evolution of the rails of the South Atlantic islands (Aves: Rallidae)". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology (152): 1–53. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.152. ISSN 0081-0282.


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