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Galapagos crake

The Galapagos crake, also called the Galapagos rail and Darwin's rail, is a vulnerable species of rail in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It resembles its sister species, the black rail of the Americas, from which it diverged 1.2 million years ago.

Taxonomy and systematics
The Galapagos crake was originally described as Zapornia spilonota and has been moved among at least five other scientific names before its current binomial was adopted. At least one author classified it as a subspecies of black rail, and others consider the black rail and Galapagos crake to form a superspecies. The Galapagos crake is monotypic. ==Description==
Description
The Galapagos crake is about long and weighs about {{convert|35|to|45|g ==Distribution and habitat==
Distribution and habitat
The Galapagos crake is found on the Galápagos islands of Pinta, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Floreana, and San Cristóbal, though the population on San Cristóbal might be extinct. It inhabits humid highlands on those islands in areas with dense fern, shrub, and forb cover. ==Behavior==
Behavior
Movement The Galapagos crake is a year-round resident. It can fly and swim, though it does not fly well nor for long distances. Its flight has been described as awkward and labored. It tends to run rather than fly to escape danger. Feeding The Galapagos crake forages during the day, moving along the ground in dense growth tossing leaves and investigating the leaf litter. Its primary prey is insects of many types and its diet includes other arthropods, snails, and berries and seeds. Breeding The Galapagos crake's breeding season has not been fully defined but appears to span from September to April. It is aggressively territorial; it stamps its feet and raises its tail as a threat and may run towards other rails that encroach on its territory. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season but it is not known if the bond lasts year-round. The species makes its nest on the ground; it is a partially covered cup made of herbaceous plant matter with a side entrance. The clutch size is three to six eggs. The incubation period is 23 to 25 days and both parents incubate. Chicks take about 80 to 85 days from hatch to reach adulthood. Vocalization The Galapagos crake gives at least five vocalizations, "cheeping, a chichichichiroo call, a chirr call, a chatter call, and a rattle call". They variously are used for members of a family to maintain contact, to advertise territory, and to intimidate predators. ==Status==
Status
The IUCN originally assessed the Galapagos crake as Near Threatened but since 2000 has classified it as Vulnerable. It has a very limited range and its estimated population of between 3300 and 6700 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. Destruction of habitat by cattle, goats, and pigs is a major cause of population decline; when those were removed from Santiago Island the crake population rebounded. Climate change and its associated severe weather events may affect the crake's habitat. Feral rats, cats, and dogs, and native short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) are potential threats as well. ==References==
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