Ascension Night Heron Nycticorax olsoni Scientific name definitions

Discovered in a small fumarole north of Sisters Peak on Ascension and in guano deposits in Chapel Grotto lava tube (1 Bourne, W. R. P., N. P. Ashmole, and K. E. L. Simmons (2003). A new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail from Ascension Island, central tropical Atlantic Ocean. Ardea 91:45–51. Close , 2 Olson, S. L. (1977). Additional notes on subfossil bird remains from Ascension Island. Ibis.119:37–43. Close ), the Ascension Night Heron is known from several fossil bones, including juveniles. This confirms a breeding population and its status as an endemic species. It was smaller than the Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), the likely founding species (2 Olson, S. L. (1977). Additional notes on subfossil bird remains from Ascension Island. Ibis.119:37–43. Close ), but there is a marked difference in the legs and toes, which show an increase in robustness (3 Hume, J. P. (2024). Osteological and historical data on extinct island night herons (Aves: Ardeidae), with special reference to the Mascarene Islands and Ascension. Geobios 83:21–28. Close ). Based on measurements, the Ascension Night Heron was estimated to be 10–20% smaller than the Black-crowned Night Heron (1 Bourne, W. R. P., N. P. Ashmole, and K. E. L. Simmons (2003). A new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail from Ascension Island, central tropical Atlantic Ocean. Ardea 91:45–51. Close ). These modifications suggest a terrestrial existence (3 Hume, J. P. (2024). Osteological and historical data on extinct island night herons (Aves: Ardeidae), with special reference to the Mascarene Islands and Ascension. Geobios 83:21–28. Close ) and poor flying capabilities (1 Bourne, W. R. P., N. P. Ashmole, and K. E. L. Simmons (2003). A new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail from Ascension Island, central tropical Atlantic Ocean. Ardea 91:45–51. Close ). The Ascension Night Heron possibly survived until the arrival of the first human visitors in the early 1500s, but, being terrestrial and a probable ground-nesting species, it disappeared rapidly due to the introduction of cats and rats (1 Bourne, W. R. P., N. P. Ashmole, and K. E. L. Simmons (2003). A new subfossil night heron and a new genus for the extinct rail from Ascension Island, central tropical Atlantic Ocean. Ardea 91:45–51. Close , 3 Hume, J. P. (2024). Osteological and historical data on extinct island night herons (Aves: Ardeidae), with special reference to the Mascarene Islands and Ascension. Geobios 83:21–28. Close ).