Vertebrates from Aldabra Atoll (1 Viewer)

[Fred Ruhe]

HUME, J.P., MARTILL, D., & HING, R., 2018
A terrestrial vertebrate palaeontological review of Aldabra Atoll, Aldabra Group, Seychelles
PlosOne https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192675

Abstract:

The Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage of Aldabra Atoll has been comparatively well studied. Three Upper Pleistocene fossil localities have been described yielding birds, reptiles and terrestrial molluscs. Those of Bassin Cabri and Bassin Lebine on Ile Picard are undated but must be in excess of 136,000 YBP, whereas Point Hodoul on Malabar Island is circa 100,000 YBP. Aldabra was seemingly completely submerged between deposition of the Ile Picard and Point Hodoul deposits, resulting in local faunal extinctions. Here we present the results of an ongoing study of fossil material collected on Ile Picard in 1987, which reveals a more diverse assemblage than previously realised. Notable discoveries are an Ardeola heron, three Procellariformes, tropic-bird Phaethon, gull Larus, rail Dryolimnas, harrier Circus and owl Tyto, plus evidence of recolonisation of the atoll by some seabirds, rail, harrier, owl, giant tortoises and lizards after the Ile Picard/Point Hodoul submergence event.

Free pdf: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0192675&type=printable

Enjoy,

Fred

 

[Fred Ruhe]

Described extinct birds from Aldabra Island are:

Aldabranas cabri Harrison et Walker, 1978. Late Pleistocene
Pterodroma kurodai Harrison et Walker, 1978. Pleistocene
Nesillas aldabrana Benson et Perry, 1968. Holocene

Ref:

Colin James Oliver Harrison & Cyril Alexander Walker, 1978
Pleistocene Bird Remains from Aldabra Atoll Indian Ocean
Journal of Natural History 12: 7-14
Summary: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222937800770021a?src=recsys

Two extinct birds are identified from a Pleistocene deposit on Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean. One is a duck, Aldabranas cabri sp. nov., a little larger than Anas platyrhynchos and with osteological characters indicating a more terrestrial mode of life; the other a small procellarid, Pterodroma kurodai sp. nov. A single bone from another Pleistocene deposit is apparently referable to the rail Dryolimnas cuvieri, a species now present on Aldabra.

Fred