A terrestrial vertebrate palaeontological review of Aldabra Atoll, Aldabra Group, Seychelles

Aldabra Atoll's Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage reveals a more diverse fauna than previously documented, with notable discoveries including an Ardeola heron, three Procellariformes, tropic-bird Phaethon, gull Larus, rail Dryolimnas, harrier Circus, and owl Tyto. The study, based on fossil material collected in 1987 from Ile Picard, suggests that Aldabra was completely submerged between the deposition of Ile Picard and Point Hodoul deposits, leading to local faunal extinctions. Evidence indicates recolonization by seabirds, rails, harriers, owls, giant tortoises, and lizards post-submergence event.

Hume, J. P., Martill, D., & Hing, R. (2018). A terrestrial vertebrate palaeontological review of Aldabra Atoll, Aldabra Group, Seychelles. Plos One, 13(3), e0192675. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192675