Rallus montivagorum Alcover, Pieper, Pereira & Rando, 2015, n. sp.

Rallus montivagorum

Rallus montivagorum n. sp. has a longer coracoid (14%) and humerus (23%) than R. carvaoensis n. sp. from São Miguel (U = -2.448; p = 0.007, U = -2.714; p = 0.002) and R. minutus n. sp. from São Jorge (34% and 35%), and a smaller coracoid than R. aquaticus (F1,54 = 167.293; p = <0.001, F1,53 = 123.804; p = 0.001) (16% and 13% respectively). The ulna is longer (16%) than in R. lowei n. sp. and in R. minutus n. sp. (60% longer; U = -2.646; p = 0.003) (Table 1), but smaller (15%) than in R. aquaticus (F1,50 = 124.784; p = <0.001). The carpometacarpus is longer (27%) than in R. carvaoensis n. sp. and R. minutus n. sp. (71%) (Table 1), but shorter (12%) than in R. aquaticus (U = -4.861, p <0.001). The femur length is similar to R. lowei n. sp., R. adolfocaesaris n. sp. and R. carvaoensis n. sp. (Table 1) (p = 0.601), but shorter (13%) than in R. aquaticus (U = -6.709, p <0.001). The tibiotarsus of R. montivagorum n. sp. is close in length to that of R. lowei n. sp. and R. carvaoensis n. sp., but it is slightly longer than in R. adolfocaesaris n. sp. (Table 1), and shorter (16%) than in R. aquaticus (F1,51 = 153,334, p <0.001). The MANOVA of traits 26 and 29 showed that R. montivagorum n. sp. has a longer (12%) tarsometatarsus than R. carvaoensis n. sp. (p <0.001) and R. minutus n. sp. (29% longer; p <0.001), being similar in total length to that of R. lowei n. sp. (p = 0.734), but shorter (17%) than in R. aquaticus (p <0.001). The distal tarsometarsus width is narrower than in R. lowei n. sp. and R. aquaticus (p <0.in both cases), but similar to R. carvaoensis n. sp. and R. minutus n. sp. (p = 0.795 and p = 0.678 respectively). R. montivagorum n. sp. has a similar tarsometatarsus length (U = -1.095; p = 0.309), distal (U = - 1.048; p = 0.310), and proximal width (U = - 0.334; p = 0.748) to R. adolfocaesaris n. sp.

The humerus+ulna+carpometacarpus to femur length ratio (2.2:1) and the humerus-to-femur length ratio (0.94) indicates that R. montivagorum n. sp. was a species capable of flying, although with this capability somewhat reduced, as suggested by the small sternum, which in turn displays a shortened carina sterni (Figure 10).