Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Rallidae Scientific name Porzana severnsi | Phylum Chordata Order Gruiformes Genus Porzana Rank Species | |
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Similar Great O‘ahu crake, O'ahu moa‑nalo, Apteribis, ‘Eua rail, Marquesas swamphen | ||
The great Maui rail or great Maui crake (Porzana severnsi) is an extinct bird species from Maui, one of two flightless rails which survived on Maui until people arrived in 150 C.E.
It was the larger of two species of rail found on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Several specimens of this bird were found in early settlements. It was 1 foot 3 inches (38 cm) tall. Its beak was 0.75 inches (2 cm) inch long; its neck was 8.5 inches (22 cm) inches long. It was probably brown and grey and black like its recently extinct relatives the Hawaiian rail and Laysan rail. It was flightless due to its small wings that were on average less than 4 inches long.
It probably fed on the fruits, leaves, and flowers of trees that fell onto the ground, especially those of ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla), and Lobelia spp.
The cause of extinction is not well established, but it was likely hunted for meat, and its bones and feathers were used in old style art. It may have also have been attacked by Polynesian rats that were introduced by the natives by accident.