The Aldabra Brush Warbler (Nesillas aldabrana) is an extinct bird from the family of Old World Warblers (Sylviidae). Its habitat was the Aldabra atoll in the Indian Ocean. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa (trichoplax) Orthonectida (orthonectids) Rhombozoa (dicyemids) Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) (radial symmetry) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Bilateria (unranked) (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genus Many: see text The Old World Warblers, family Sylviidae, are a group of more than 280 small insectivorous passerine bird species. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Genus Many: see text The Old World Warblers, family Sylviidae, are a group of more than 280 small insectivorous passerine bird species. ... Genus Many: see text The Old World Warblers, family Sylviidae, are a group of more than 280 small insectivorous passerine bird species. ... Map of Aldabra Atoll Aldabra and Assumption Island Aldabra Atoll Aldabra is a raised coral atoll in the Indian Ocean virtually untouched by humans, with distinctive island fauna, including the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. ...

Description

This bird reached a length of 13 cm and a wingspan of 6.3 cm. The length of the tail was 8.6 cm.

Discovery and Extinction

The Aldabra Brush Warbler was discovered by British ornithologist Robert Prys-Jones from the Museum of Natural History in London in 1967 and described in 1968 by Constantine Walter Benson and Malcolm Penny on basis of a male, a female and a nest with 3 eggs. Juveniles were never found. There are many Museums of Natural History around the world, including: American Museum of Natural History, in New York City. ...

After the discovery the brush warbler left lost until a new survey was made by Prys-Jones from 1974 to 1976. At the end of 1975 he found six further birds which were all males. The birds were ringed and photographed.

Unfortunately in 1983 only one male was left and the Aldrabra Brush Warbler became the rarest and in its occurrence most restricted bird in the world. It was endemic to a 10 ha large coastal strip on the Aldabran island of Malabar. Despite of intensive surveys the extinction of this bird was confirmed in 1986. It is listed as officially extinct by the IUCN since 1994.

The reason of its extinction was apparently the introduction of rats, cats and goats.

Reference

• 2000: Errol Fuller "Extinct Birds" ISBN 0-19-850837-9 (with a photograph of a living individual)

External links

• Some Observations on Nesillas aldabranus