Repeated evolution of flightlessness in Dryolimnas rails (Aves: Rallidae) after extinction and recolonization on Aldabra

Fossil evidence from Aldabra Atoll reveals that flightlessness evolved independently twice in the Dryolimnas rail, following extinction and recolonization after a major sea-level inundation event during the Upper Pleistocene. This discovery underscores the remarkable adaptability of Rallidae birds to colonize isolated islands and evolve flightlessness repeatedly. The study, based on temporally separated fossil localities, provides irrefutable proof that a member of this clade likely originated from Madagascar, became extinct due to environmental changes, and recolonized the atoll, repeating the evolution of flightlessness. This unique record in Rallidae highlights the resilience and evolutionary potential of these birds in isolated ecosystems.

Hume, J. P., & Martill, D. (2019). Repeated evolution of flightlessness in Dryolimnas rails (Aves: Rallidae) after extinction and recolonization on Aldabra. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 186(3), 666–672. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz018