All true. And a nice bit of biological history. Although it was
a bit of a stretch to suggest the same species evolved twice. Even if the
ancestral species was the same both times, inevitably the end result may well
have been similar both times, as both went down the path of being yet another island
flightless rail, but on balance of probability, it would not become the same
species.
Philip
From:
Birding-Aus [ On Behalf Of Anthea
Fleming
Sent: Sunday, 12 May, 2019 10:55 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] ...and it seems this wasn't posted on April
1...
Loss of flight in Rail species is quite a common response to
being literally isolated on islands. Colonising rails arrive on islands
because they managed to survive being blown off-shore. If their
descendants lose flying ability, it's advantageous - providing no
predators turn up. Buff-banded Rails on Heron Island can't fly, though
they do try when startled. Their mainland relatives can and do fly quite
well. Incidentally , this phenomenon also happens to insects, and of
course many other birds as well.
Anthea Fleming
On 12/05/2019 9:27 AM, Alan Gillanders wrote:
The headline is not supported
by the text. The loss of flight on multiple occasions in different locations is
as significant as it happening twice in one when one has a bit of time to play
with.
"These
unique fossils provide irrefutable evidence that a member of the rail family
colonised the atoll, most likely from Madagascar, and became flightless
independently on each occasion," said lead researcher Dr Julian Hume
Regards,
Alan
On 11/05/2019 2:11 pm, Clive Nealon wrote:
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