The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus and species

A new genus and species of Gallirallus-like flightless extinct rail is described from deposits in western Viti Levu, Fiji, south-west Pacific. It is distinguished by having a longer, more decurved bill, than all other rails. Fossils of the barred-wing rail Nesoclopeus poicilopterus (Hautlaub, 1866) are reported from eastern parts of Viti Levu and several fossil bones suggest the former presence of a probable gallinule. A total of seven rails in seven genera were, therefore, sympatric on Viti Levu in the immediate prehuman period.