Auckland rail
| Auckland rail | |
|---|---|
| Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans, 1905 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Lewinia |
| Species: | L. muelleri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lewinia muelleri (Rothschild, 1893)
| |
Distribution area
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The Auckland rail, also known as the Auckland Island rail or Auckland Islands rail (Lewinia muelleri) is a small nearly flightless rail endemic to the Auckland Islands 460 km south of New Zealand. It is somewhat of a biogeographical anomaly, being the only species in the genus Lewinia to have reached the islands of New Zealand, skipping over the main islands to reach the remote Auckland islands group. Its closest relative is Lewin's rail of Australia. The species is currently restricted to two islands in the Auckland islands group, Adams Island and Disappointment Island.