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Revision as of 22:54, 12 November 2021 editLaurencedmcgill (talk | contribs)11 edits Added a Vocalization subsection.Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit Revision as of 23:04, 12 November 2021 edit undoLaurencedmcgill (talk | contribs)11 edits Added Diet and Reproduction sections.Tag: Visual editNext edit →
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The '''Sakalava rail''' (''Zapornia olivieri'') is a species of bird in the family ]. It is endemic to western ]. This bird is small with brown upperpart feathers, grey underparts, a yellow bill and red legs.<ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021" /> The '''Sakalava rail''' (''Zapornia olivieri'') is a species of bird in the family ]. It is endemic to western ]. This bird is small with brown upperpart feathers, grey underparts, a yellow bill and red legs.<ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021" />


The ] of this rail species is freshwater ]es of reed ''Phragmites mauritianus''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Rabenandrasana|first=Marc|last2=Zefania|first2=Sama|last3=Long|first3=Peter|last4=The Seing|first4=Sam|last5=Clémentine Virginie|first5=Marie|last6=Randrianarisoa|first6=Mihaja|last7=Safford|first7=Roger|last8=Székely|first8=Tamas|date=March 2009|title=Distribution, habitat and status of ‘Endangered’ Sakalava Rail of Madagascar|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0959270908008058/type/journal_article|journal=Bird Conservation International|language=en|volume=19|issue=1|pages=23–32|doi=10.1017/S0959270908008058|issn=0959-2709}}</ref> It is classified as Endangered and is threatened by ] due to the destruction of wetlands in Madagascar.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Rabenandrasana|first=Marc|title=Conservation biology of Sakalava rail Amaurornis olivieri an Endangered Malagasy water bird and public awareness in Besalampy wetlands complex, Western Madagascar|publisher=Ligue Malgache pour la Protection des Oiseaux|year=February 2007|location=Antananarivo, Madagascar}}</ref> The habitat of this rail species is freshwater ]es of reed ''Phragmites mauritianus''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Rabenandrasana|first=Marc|last2=Zefania|first2=Sama|last3=Long|first3=Peter|last4=The Seing|first4=Sam|last5=Clémentine Virginie|first5=Marie|last6=Randrianarisoa|first6=Mihaja|last7=Safford|first7=Roger|last8=Székely|first8=Tamas|date=March 2009|title=Distribution, habitat and status of ‘Endangered’ Sakalava Rail of Madagascar|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0959270908008058/type/journal_article|journal=Bird Conservation International|language=en|volume=19|issue=1|pages=23–32|doi=10.1017/S0959270908008058|issn=0959-2709}}</ref> It is classified as Endangered and is threatened by ] due to the destruction of wetlands in Madagascar.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Rabenandrasana|first=Marc|title=Conservation biology of Sakalava rail Amaurornis olivieri an Endangered Malagasy water bird and public awareness in Besalampy wetlands complex, Western Madagascar|publisher=Ligue Malgache pour la Protection des Oiseaux|year=February 2007|location=Antananarivo, Madagascar}}</ref>


== Description == == Description ==
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=== Vocalizations === === Vocalizations ===
Sakalava rail performs many ]. They emit a “tic–tic” or “tic-tic-tic huaw” call while flicking their tail. They also simultaneously communicate with their partner by vocalizing a “truwruru” every 4 to 6 seconds while motionless.<ref name=":1" /> Before mating, both male and female stand side-by-side and simultaneously emit a loud “prourourou”.<ref name=":0" /> Chicks can also call a loud “kiouw” every 3 to 5 seconds.<ref name=":1" /> Sakalava rail performs many ]. They emit a “tic–tic” or “tic-tic-tic huaw” call while flicking their tail. They also simultaneously communicate with their partner by vocalizing a “truwruru” every 4 to 6 seconds while motionless.<ref name=":1" /> Before mating, both male and female stand side-by-side and simultaneously emit a loud “prourourou”.<ref name=":0" /> Chicks can also call a loud “kiouw” every 3 to 5 seconds.<ref name=":1" />

=== Diet ===
More than half of Sakalava rail’s diet is composed of spiders, while the remaining portion is made up of insects, ] and ] found under floating vegetation.

=== Reproduction ===
The male Sakalava 4ail has to perform an elaborate ] in order to mate. First, the male leads and presents to the female possible nest sites while calling loudly. The male vocalizes to invite the female to visit the site.<ref name=":0" /> Then, the male would carry material and begin building a nest. When the female approves of the site, she would immediately assist in constructing the nest.<ref name=":0" /> If she did not find the site suitable, she would not assist in nest construction, which would cause the male to move to another site and repeat this courtship behavior until a suitable nesting site is found.<ref name=":0" />


== References == == References ==

Revision as of 23:04, 12 November 2021

Species of bird

Sakalava rail
Conservation status

Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Zapornia
Species: Z. olivieri
Binomial name
Zapornia olivieri
(G. Grandidier & Berlioz, 1929)
Distribution of the Sakalava rail
Synonyms

Amaurornis olivieri (Grandidier & Berlioz, 1929)

The Sakalava rail (Zapornia olivieri) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is endemic to western Madagascar. This bird is small with brown upperpart feathers, grey underparts, a yellow bill and red legs.

The habitat of this rail species is freshwater marshes of reed Phragmites mauritianus. It is classified as Endangered and is threatened by habitat loss due to the destruction of wetlands in Madagascar.

Description

Sakalava Rail measures 19 cm with grey underparts, a yellow bill and red eyes. This rail species exhibits some evidence of sexual dimorphism of different body size and colours. Males are smaller, thinner, have rufous brown upperparts and bright red shanks. Females are larger, have brown green upperparts and pale pink shanks. Juvenile and immature Sakalava Rails look very similar to females. ] Although 34 microsatellite loci, which are molecular markers of polymorphism, were produced for this species, additional research is needed to confirm sexual dimorphism using DNA or voice analysis.

Habitat

Sakalava Rail lives in marshes of open water and dense reedbeds of Phragmites mauritianus. These lotic marshes also contain many floating plant species such as native ferns (Salvinia), water lilies (Nymphaea lotus and Nymphaea nouchali) and invasive water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes).

Distribution

Sakalava rail has a restricted distribution in Madagascar due to a small and fragmented population. This rail species has been historically recorded between the Mahavavy river in the north and the Mangoky river in the south. Its population was estimated at 215 individuals with a largest single population of 62 birds following surveys conducted in 2003-2006. During this study, Sakalava rails were located at five locations: Lake Kinkony, Ampandra, Amparihy, Sahapy and Mandrozo. In 2016, the IUCN Red List estimated that the population ranges between 250 and 999 mature individuals. Although few observations have been made, the species is suggested to have a declining population.

Behavior and Ecology

Sakalava rails are found alone or in pairs. They walk slowly over floating vegetation and turn ferns with their bills to catch prey when feeding. When scared, they run and briefly fly to hide into deep vegetation. They are commonly predated by Yellow-billed kite (Milvus aegyptius) and Madagascar coucal (Centropus toulou).

The Sakalava rail’s peak breeding period lasts from September to November, but there is some evidence that this rail species could have a longer breeding period lasting year round. Some active nests and young Sakalava rails have been observed during the wet season in February and March.

Both sexes participate in parental care activities during the breeding season: from building the nest, incubating the eggs, and feeding the chicks. No evidence of cooperative breeding by helpers have been observed for the Sakalava rail.

Vocalizations

Sakalava rail performs many bird vocalizations. They emit a “tic–tic” or “tic-tic-tic huaw” call while flicking their tail. They also simultaneously communicate with their partner by vocalizing a “truwruru” every 4 to 6 seconds while motionless. Before mating, both male and female stand side-by-side and simultaneously emit a loud “prourourou”. Chicks can also call a loud “kiouw” every 3 to 5 seconds.

Diet

More than half of Sakalava rail’s diet is composed of spiders, while the remaining portion is made up of insects, crustaceans and molluscs found under floating vegetation.

Reproduction

The male Sakalava 4ail has to perform an elaborate courtship display in order to mate. First, the male leads and presents to the female possible nest sites while calling loudly. The male vocalizes to invite the female to visit the site. Then, the male would carry material and begin building a nest. When the female approves of the site, she would immediately assist in constructing the nest. If she did not find the site suitable, she would not assist in nest construction, which would cause the male to move to another site and repeat this courtship behavior until a suitable nesting site is found.

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Zapornia olivieri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22692654A93363104. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692654A93363104.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ Rabenandrasana, Marc; Zefania, Sama; Long, Peter; The Seing, Sam; Clémentine Virginie, Marie; Randrianarisoa, Mihaja; Safford, Roger; Székely, Tamas (March 2009). "Distribution, habitat and status of 'Endangered' Sakalava Rail of Madagascar". Bird Conservation International. 19 (1): 23–32. doi:10.1017/S0959270908008058. ISSN 0959-2709.
  3. ^ Rabenandrasana, Marc (February 2007). Conservation biology of Sakalava rail Amaurornis olivieri an Endangered Malagasy water bird and public awareness in Besalampy wetlands complex, Western Madagascar. Antananarivo, Madagascar: Ligue Malgache pour la Protection des Oiseaux.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. Brede, Edward G.; Long, Peter; Zefania, Sama; Rabenandrasana, Marc; Székely, Tamás; Bruford, Michael (2010-02-13). "PCR primers for microsatellite loci in a Madagascan waterbird, the Sakalava Rail (Amaurornis olivieri)". Conservation Genetics Resources. 2 (S1): 273–277. doi:10.1007/s12686-010-9189-2. ISSN 1877-7252.
  5. ^ Pruvot, Yverlin Z; René de Roland, Lily-Arison; Razafimanjato, Gilbert; Rakotondratsima, Marius PH; Andrianarimisa, Aristide; Thorstrom, Russell (2018-04-03). "Nesting biology and food habits of the endangered Sakalava Rail Amaurornis olivieri in the Mandrozo Protected Area, western Madagascar". Ostrich. 89 (2): 109–115. doi:10.2989/00306525.2017.1317296. ISSN 0030-6525.

External links

Taxon identifiers
Amaurornis olivieri


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