Talk:Inaccessible Island rail

Untitled
Nice article, 80.255 Jim

Papers to include











 * Reduction of the Clavicles in the Mesoenatidae, with Some Remarks Concerning the Relationship of the Clavicle to Flight-Function in Birds


 * Rothschild, L. W. "On the eggs of Atlantisia rogersi." Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 48 (1928).


 * Rand, Austin Loomer. "The origin of the land birds of Tristan da Cunha." Fieldiana Zool 37 (1955): 139-166.


 * Hänel, C. H. R. I. S. T. I. N. E., and RICARDO L. Palma. "The lice of the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago." Beitrage zur Entomologie 57.1 (2007): 105-133.











Not all of these will be used, but most have something to add. Sabine's Sunbird  talk  19:14, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

Island dwarfism
I removed the following section: ''Given its small size, the species is regarded as an example of insular dwarfism, with isolation on a small island free of terrestrial mammals having allowed it to assume the ecological role of a mouse. '' My reasoning is thus:
 * Foster's rule is generally applied to closely related taxa. You'd say make a comparison between members of the same genus or closely related genera. This makes sense, as animals exhibit ranges of sizes so one best describes a species unusual size in relation to closely related species (Is an aardvark a giant or a dwarf? Who knows?). This species is monotypic and its closest relatives are uncertain and considerable time has passed since it diverged from them so in that regards the application of Foster's rule to this species is problematic.
 * With regards to its closest relatives as currently understood, the genus Laterallus is itself tiny and mouselike. The black rail and Junin crake are comparable in size if not slightly smaller, and the other members of the genus are around the same size or very slightly larger. So if the species is roughly the same size as their relatives, how can they be a good example of insular dwarfism? I would guess that the suggestion that they are an example of insular dwarfs is based on an earlier taxonomy?
 * Finally, Foster's rule would suggest that small species get larger on islands, not smaller. This obviously didn't happen either.
 * I don't think it's worth even including it as a "it has been suggested that it is an example of". I don't wish to disparage the book, but in the context of this species the book is not a reliable source (even if it's otherwise good). Sabine's Sunbird  talk  04:45, 29 May 2017 (UTC)

Lead refs
Okay, old school, but I thought that per WP:WIAFA, and WP:LEAD, do we see inline refs in the lead? The Rambling Man (Been a while, I know......) 00:14, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * I guess what I mean is, we shouldn't be seeing any inline references in the lead. Everything should be cited in the main body of the article. The Rambling Man (Been a while, I know......) 00:18, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * It's incredible. There are at least three inline references IN THE LEAD.  There should be zero.  What's happened to WP:FAC to allow this kind of thing to pass?  Honestly...... The Rambling Man (Been a while, I know......) 00:22, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * @The Rambling Man 767k888u
 * 3714847o7
 * 5.77.107.210 (talk) 00:54, 1 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 5.77.107.210 (talk) 00:54, 1 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 5.77.107.210 (talk) 00:54, 1 May 2024 (UTC)

OH and "adults have a red eye" just one? It's amazing if they do. The Rambling Man (Been a while, I know......) 00:29, 30 April 2024 (UTC)