Systematics, morphology and ecology of rails (Aves: Rallidae) of the Mascarene Islands, with one new species Author Hume, Julian Pender text Zootaxa 2019 2019-07-03 4626 1 1 107 journal article 26212 10.11646/zootaxa.4626.1.1 29c4832f-9970-4c9c-9bcb-2564407ac481 1175-5326 3335513 6CC12BAF-968F-4BDE-9315-340AF12A76EC Genus Dryolimnas Sharpe, 1893 Dryolimnas Sharpe, 1893 , p.26 = Rallus cuvieri Pucheran, 1845 , p.279 . Type by original designation Etymology: From Greek drus, tree, and Modern Latin, limnas rail (> Gr. limnas of the marsh> limnç marsh) Diagnosis of relevant skeletal anatomy: Rostrum ( Fig. 25 ), short and straight; in dorsal view, os nasale narrower than os premaxillare; in lateral view, narial opening long and approximately 45% of bill length; foramina neurovascularia small and few in number; in ventral view, os premaxillare deeply excavated. Humerus ( Fig. 26 ): in caudal view, shaft dorsoventrally curved; caput humeri bulbous; tuberculum ventrale prominent and directed caudad; incisura capitis deeply excavated; tuberculum dorsale prominent and directed laterad; crista deltopectoralis short and weakly triangular; fossa pneumotricipitalis deeply excavated; crista bicipitalis terminates in sharp angle to shaft; margo caudalis raised and extends distally to mid-shaft; processus flexorius extends further distad than condylus dorsalis; indistinct processus supracondylaris dorsalis; fossa olecrani deeply excavated; in cranial view, sulcus ligamentosa transversus shallow; sulcus n. coracobrachialis indistinct; fossa m. brachialis deeply excavated; epicondylus ventralis prominent. FIGURE 25. Comparison of crania and rostra of Dryolimnas cuvieri with D. chekei nov.sp. , lateral view (left), dorsal view (right). A ., B . NHMUK 1882.2.28.2 Dryolimnas c. cuvieri u/s; C ., D . UMZC 593.B u/s, I . UMZC 593.B u/s; † D. chekei u/s; E ., F . NHMUK S/1989.38.1 D. c. aldabranus ♂; NHMUK 1910.4.8.1 G ., H . † D. c. abbotti u/s. Scale bar = 10 mm. Pelvis ( Fig. 27 ): in dorsal aspect, ala preacetabularis ilii expanded proximally, lateral edges angular; crista spinosa synsacri forms a single distinct ridge; proximal end of extremitas cranialis synsacri extends further craniad than crista iliaca dorsalis; foramina intertransversariae large and oval-shaped; in lateral view, ala preacetabularis deep with strongly arched crista iliaca dorsalis. Femur ( Fig. 28 ): proximal and distal ends incurved both posteriorly and internally, exhibiting two curvatures in two different planes; in cranial aspect, crista trochanteris forms distinct, dorsally facing ridge; in caudal aspect, deeply excavated medial to facies articularis acetabularis; condylus medialis and condylus lateralis connected with distinct ridge. Tibiotarsus ( Fig. 29 ): robust, with wide and deep proximal and distal ends; in cranial aspect, crista cnemialis distinct, directed cranio-dorsad; crista fibularis long and triangular distally; pons supratendineus wide; canalis extensorius deflected mediad; condylus lateralis larger than condylus medialis; sulcus m. fibularis deeply excavated; in caudal aspect, trochlea cartilaginis tibialis deeply excavated. Tarsometatarsus ( Fig. 30 ): cotyla lateralis lower than cotyla medialis; retinaculum extensorium ossified; trochlea metatarsi II shorter than other trochlea and directed strongly plantad; in dorsal aspect, trochlea metatarsi III largest with a deep sulcus extending onto facies dorsalis; foramen vasculare distale large and oval-shaped; on proximal end, crista medialis flexoris digitorum longus present; sulci for tendon of musculus flexor perforatus digiti II and musculus flexor hallucis longus present.