The only specimen is now lost Many bird species from the past were described based on a single specimen, which is now lost. One such example is the Tongatapu rail. Historical reports and descriptions of this bird species from the rail family (Rallidae) remain, based on observations and collections made
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A depiction of the extinct Tongatapu rail by Georg Forster? Created between 1772 and 1775. (© George Forster, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)