| Viti Levu Rail | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Vitirallus T. H. Worthy, 2004 |
| Species: | V. watlingi |
| Binomial name | |
| Vitirallus watlingi T. H. Worthy, 2004 |
|
The Viti Levu Rail (Vitirallus watlingi) was a prehistoric flightless bird from Fiji. The Viti Levu Rail was thought to be about the same size as the Bar-winged Rail (Nesoclopeus poecilopterus) but with a very elongated and slender bill. [1]
The name of the genus refers to Viti the island of origin in Fiji and rallus for rails. The species name watlingi is after the ornithologist Dr Dick Watling.[1]
Remains of this species were discovered in September 1998 at Viti Levu, the largest island in the Republic of Fiji. It was first described by Trevor H. Worthy in 2004.[1] The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[2]