Prehistoric rails, illustration. Rails are wetland birds that feed on vegetation, insects and small invertebrates in reed beds and marshes. These exti

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Prehistoric rails, illustration. Rails are wetland birds that feed on vegetation, insects and small invertebrates in reed beds and marshes. These extinct prehistoric species are known from the fossil record found on the Atlantic islands of the Azores and Madeira. They are, from left to right: Rallus carvaoensis (from Sao Miguel Island in the Azores), Rallus adolfocaesaris (from Madeira), Rallus montivagorum (from Pico Island in the Azores), Rallus lowei (from Madeira), and Rallus minutus (from Sao Jorge Island in the Azores). This is an example of evolution acting to produce divergent changes in different island populations.

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Size: 5009px × 2085px
Photo credit: © JOSE ANTONIO PENAS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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