Voznesensky Shepherd [1] ( Latin Mundia elpenor ) is a type of extinct flightless birds from the shepherd's family .
| † Ascension Shepherd |
Figure by Peter Mundi, 1656 |
| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetric |
| Rod: | † Mundia Bourne, Ashmole & Simmons, 2003 |
| View: | † Ascension Shepherd |
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| International Scientific Name |
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Mundia elpenor ( Olson , 1973 ) |
| Synonyms |
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- Atlantisia elpenor Olson, 1973
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| Security status |
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Extinct speciesIUCN 3.1 Extinct : 22728746 |
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Content
The appearance of the bird is known only from the design and description of Peter Mundi , who visited Ascension Island in 1656 . It was a small bird, about 22 cm long, grayish-black in color with white specks. She had strong legs and very short wings.
The bird was endemic to Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Not studied. Apparently, was similar to that of the Tristan cowgirl . Birds lived in semi-arid areas, ran well and quickly, but did not fly. They ate mostly dark tern eggs, and, probably, small animals.
The fossil remains of this bird were found by the paleontologist Storrs Olson in 1973 . It was originally described under the name Atlantisia elpenor . But more recent studies have shown that the similarity of Voznesensky and the Tristan cowgirl are only external. In this regard, in 2003 he was singled out into an independent genus Mundia , named after the discoverer - Peter Mundi.
He died out after the appearance of rats on the island in the 18th century , perhaps he lived to 1815. After the appearance of cats on the island disappeared completely. It was declared completely extinct in 1994 , which was also confirmed by BirdLife International in 2000 and 2004.
- ↑ Vinokurov A. A. Rare and endangered animals. Birds: Right. manual / ed. V.E. Sokolova . - M .: Higher School, 1992. - p. 53. - 446 p. : il. - 100 000 copies - ISBN 5-06-002116-5 .
