page_title: Réunion harrier
section_title: Taxonomy
hierarchical_section_title: Réunion harrier / Taxonomy
caption_attribution_description: English: Plate XXXIII from Edward Newton and Hans Gadow's On additional bones of the Dodo and other extinct birds of Mauritius obtained by Mr. Théodore Sauzier. 1–8: Lophopsittacus mauritianus 1 Left tibia, front view. l: attachments of the transverse ligament across the long extensor tendons. 2 Right femur, posterior view. 3 Left metatarsus, plantar surface. 4 Left metatarsus, dorsal surface, g: groove for the tendon of the musculus extensor digitorum; i: insertion of the tendon of the m. tibialis anticus. 5 Dorsal view of the underjaw. p: posterior angle; f: facet for the quadrate; fi: additional facet for the jugal process of the quadrate. 6 Lateral view of the right jaw. 7 Ventral view of sternum. Sp.e.: spina externa sterni; p.l.a.: anterior lateral process; S: lateral line of m. subclavius. 8 Right lateral view of sternum. Sp.i.: spina externa sterni&#160;; S: median line of m. subclavius. 9–10: Circus maillardi 9 Left tibia, front view. f: rest of fibula; b: bony bridge over the tendon of the m. extensor digitorum; p: peroneal crest. 10 Left metacarpals, lateral view. p: articular facet of the pollex; m3: metacarpale III 11–18: Mascarenotus sauzieri 11 Inner view of humerus. f: pneumatic foramen. 12 Outer view of humerus. 13 Left tibia, front view. p: peroneal crest; f: distal portion of fibula&#160;; l: attachment of transverse ligament. 14 Posterior view of right tarso-metatarsus. h: bony bridge across the tendon of the m. tibialis anticus. 15 Anterior view of right tarso-metatarsus. b: facet for the hallux's metatarsal; i: insertion of the m. tibialis anticus. 16 Proximal end of the tarsus. 17 Posterior view of the small pair of tarso-metatarsals. 18 Anterior view of the small pair of tarso-metatarsals.
context_page_description: The Réunion harrier or Réunion marsh harrier is a bird of prey belonging to the marsh harrier group of harriers. It is now found only on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion, although fossil material from Mauritius has been referred to this species. It is known locally as the papangue or pied jaune. The Malagasy harrier of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands was previously treated as a subspecies of this bird but is increasingly regarded as a separate species. The Réunion harrier appears to be declining in numbers and it is classed as an endangered species.
context_section_description: The species was described in 1862 by Jules Verreaux. He named it in honour of Louis Maillard, a French botanist and engineer who mentioned the bird in a book about the island.
  In 1893 Alfred Newton and Hans Gadow described tarsometatarsi, tibiae and metacarpals from a hawk called Astur alphonsi (later renamed Accipiter alphonsi and Circus alphonsi) from Mauritius. In 1958 James Greenway considered this taxon as conspecific with the pied harrier. A later examination of the bones came to the conclusion that Astur alphonsi is actually identical with Circus maillardi, which formerly occurred on Mauritius too but is now extirpated.
caption: Sub-fossil remains of a Réunion harrier 9–10 and other birds from Mauritius
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