Tarchettis

Tarchettis is a genus of small, flightless birds that were endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius. They are known only from subfossil remains discovered in caves and swamps, indicating they went extinct sometime after human settlement of the island in the late 17th century. The name Tarchettis is derived from the Greek word for "short-legged," referring to a key characteristic observed in their skeletal structure.

These birds are believed to have been related to the Rallidae family, which includes rails and coots. Their morphology suggests a ground-dwelling lifestyle, adapted to the dense forest habitats of Mauritius. Fossil evidence points to a diet likely consisting of insects, seeds, and other small invertebrates found on the forest floor. The lack of significant predators on the island prior to human arrival would have contributed to their flightless nature, a common evolutionary path for island avifauna.

The extinction of Tarchettis is attributed to the same factors that led to the demise of the Dodo and other endemic Mauritian species. These included habitat destruction due to deforestation for agriculture and settlement, as well as the introduction of invasive species such as rats, cats, and pigs, which preyed on eggs and young birds. The exact timing of their extinction is uncertain, but it is generally placed in the late 17th or early 18th century, coinciding with the period of most intense human activity and ecological disruption on the island.