The Alaotra grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus), also known as Delacour's little grebe or rusty grebe, is a recently extinct grebe that was endemic to Lake Alaotra and its surrounding lakes in Madagascar. Experts say that the grebe became extinct after carnivorous fish were introduced into its native habitat. The last sighting of the Alaotra grebe was in 1983 or 1985 and it was officially declared extinct in 2010.
Description
The grebe was about long. Its ability to fly long distances was restricted because of its small wings.
Diet
The Alaotra grebe fed mostly on fish, although insects were found in the stomachs of a few specimens. Its hefty bill was considered typical of a piscivorous grebe. Also, the few remaining birds increasingly hybridized with little grebes; as the species differed in several key aspects, the hybrid birds may have suffered from decreased fitness, to the detriment of the rufolavatus gene pool. Only one photograph of the species is known to exist. Although some species have been classified as extinct and later have been found to still exist, Leon Bennun, the director of the conservation organization BirdLife International has stated that "no hope remains for this species" and blames the "unforeseen consequences" of human action.
Gallery
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File:Tachybaptus rufolavatus by Citron transparent background.png|An artist's reconstruction.
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See also
- Atitlán grebe, extinct since 1989 for similar reasons
- Endemic birds of Madagascar and western Indian Ocean islands