Species

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Justification
This species has not been recorded with certainty since 1890, despite recent surveys in 1998, and it may have been severely impacted by introduced cats, rats and pigs. The closely related Lord Howe Rail remains only in isolated forests free from pigs, but there are apparently no such areas on New Caledonia. However, it cannot be assumed to be Extinct, as there were unconfirmed reports in the 1960s and 1984, and it may now be restricted to largely inaccessible montane forests. Any remaining population is likely to be tiny, and for these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic source(s)
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Synonym(s)
Tricholimnas lafresnayanus Collar and Andrew (1988), Tricholimnas lafresnayanus lafresnayanus Collar and Andrew (1988)

Identification
44cm. Large, plain, flightless rail. Dull brown upperparts, greyer underparts, dull yellow, long decurved bill, and short, horn-coloured legs. Similar spp. Buff-banded Rail G. philippensis has barred black-and-white underparts and striped head. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio has short, stout bill and black or purple plumage. Female Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus is mottled brown with fairly long tail and very short bill. Voice Unknown. Hints Investigate any rails heard in remote forests. It may be crepuscular or nocturnal.

Distribution and population
Gallirallus lafresnayanus is known from at least 17 specimens taken between 1860 and 1890 from New Caledonia (to France), apparently including Ile des Pins (Fullagar et al. 1982). There are a scattering of later reports from near Mt Panié in the north and the headwaters of Rivière Blanche in the south in the 1960s and in 1984 (on Mt Panié) suggesting that it may yet survive in small numbers (Stokes 1979, Balouet 1986, Ekstrom et al. 2000). Interviews in 2004 produced credible reports by local hunters who stated they had seen the bird on the western slopes of the Panié Massif before the 1980s. These hunters have not observed the bird since (Ekstrom et al. 2000).

Population justification
Any remaining population is assumed to be tiny (numbering fewer than 50 individuals and mature individuals), with no definite records since 1890, a series of more recent unconfirmed records notwithstanding.

Ecology
It is presumed to have inhabited evergreen forest with similar ecological requirements to Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus (Ekstrom et al. 2000, 2002). Historical records have been from near sea-level to c.1,000 m, but recent reports have been from inaccessible montane forests, presumably as these areas have fewer introduced mammalian predators. Although two recent reports from marshland seem unlikely (Ekstrom et al. 2000), it has been suggested that this habitat may be the last refuge from dogs and pigs (J. Morel in Ekstrom et al. 2000). It probably feeds on a variety of invertebrates including earthworms (Taylor and van Perlo 1998).

Threats
It is likely to have declined owing to predation by introduced species such as cats, pigs and rats which now occur throughout the island. Many historical records are of birds caught by hunting dogs and it is likely therefore that it remains at risk from village dogs on hunting trips and when straying (Stokes 1979, Fullagar et al. 1982, Ekstrom et al. 2000).

Conservation actions underway
This species may be benefiting from the conservation action for Rhynochetos jubatus, particularly the control of introduced mammalian predators (Ekstrom et al. 2000). The only measures of the sort currently being implemented are in the Rivière Bleue Park, where the occurrence of the rail is very unlikely. No new records of the species have been obtained despite 500 man-days spent doing bird censuses in forested areas of the central mountains. 120 locals interviewed between 2003 and 2006 did not provide any credible reports.

Conservation actions proposed
Conduct further intensive surveys in remote forests (Ekstrom et al. 2000), although these should be cost effective and not divert funding away from conservation of other threatened habitats and species. Search other areas with high population densities of R. jubatus, another flightless bird, as these areas may have avoided the pressures that have caused the species's decline elsewhere. Include this species in the predator-control and public awareness programmes for R. jubatus in Rivière Bleue Park. Publicise the search for this species amongst forest workers and villagers (Ekstrom et al. 2000).

References
Stokes, T. 1979. On the possible existence of the New Caledonian Wood Rail Tricholimnas lafresnayanus. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 99: 47-54.

Fullagar, P. J.; Disney, H. J.; de Naurois, R. 1982. Additional specimens of two rare rails and comments on the genus Tricholimnas of New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island. Emu 82: 131-136.

Balouet, J. -C. 1986. Premiers colons de Novelle-Calédonie. Demographie-Société 55: 31-35.

Taylor, B.; van Perlo, B. 1998. Rails: a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules and coots of the world. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK.

Ekstrom, J. M. M.; Jones, J. P. G.; Willis, J.; Isherwood, I. 2000. The humid forests of New Caledonia: biological research and conservation recommendations for the vertebrate fauna of Grande Terre. CSB Conservation Publications, Cambridge, U.K.

Ekstrom, J. M. M.; Jones, J. P. G.; Willis, J.; Tobias, J.; Dutson, G.; Barre, N. 2002. New information on the distribution, status and conservation of terrestrial bird species in Grande Terre, New Caledonia. Emu 102: 197-207.

Further web sources of information
View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Butchart, S., Derhé, M., Dutson, G., Ekstrom, J., Stattersfield, A., Symes, A.

Contributors
Chartendrault, V., Ekstrom, J., Rouys, S., Spaggiari, J., Theuerkauf, J.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Gallirallus lafresnayanus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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