Editing Kiritimati (section)

=== Extinction ===
The [[type specimen]] of the [[Tuamotu sandpiper]] (''Prosobonia cancellata'') was collected on Christmas Island in 1778, probably on 1 or 2&nbsp;January, during [[Captain Cook]]'s visit.<ref name=Cook1784/> The expedition's [[naturalist]] [[William Anderson (naturalist)|William Anderson]] observed the bird, and it was painted by William Ellis (linked below). The single specimen was in [[Joseph Banks]]'s collection at the end of the 18th&nbsp;century, but later was lost or destroyed. There is some [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomic]] dispute regarding the Kiritimati population.<ref name=Townsend/><ref name=Zusi/>

As all ''[[Prosobonia]]'' seem(ed) to be resident birds, unwilling to undertake long-distance migrations, an appropriate treatment would be to consider the extinct population the [[nominate subspecies]], as ''[[Tuamotu sandpiper|Prosobonia cancellata]] cancellata'' or Kiritimati sandpiper, distinct from the surviving [[Tuamotu Islands]] population more than {{convert|2,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the southeast.
It may have been, but probably was not, limited to Kiritimati; while no remains have been found, little fieldwork has been conducted, and judging from the [[Tuamotu sandpiper]]'s habits, almost all [[Line Islands]] would have offered suitable [[habitat]].

The Kiritimati population of [[Tuamotu sandpiper|''P.&nbsp;cancellata'']] disappeared in the earlier part of the 19th century or so, almost certainly due to predation by introduced mammals. While ''[[Prosobonia]]'' generally manage to hold their own against [[Polynesian rat]]s, they are highly vulnerable to the [[black rat]] and [[feral cat]]s.<ref name=BLI/> Given the uncertainties surrounding the introduction date and maximum population of the former, the cats seem to be the main culprits in the Kiritimati sandpiper's extinction.

[[File:Buff-banded Rail Fafa Island.jpg|thumb|The [[buff-banded rail]] (''Gallirallus philippensis'') might once have had a similar-looking relative on Kiritimati.]]
Given that the island was apparently settled to some extent in prehistoric times, it may have already lost bird species then. The geological data indicates that Kiritimati is very old and was never completely underwater in the [[Holocene]] at least; thus it might have once harboured highly distinct wetland birds.

The limited overall [[habitat]] diversity on Kiritimati nonetheless limits the range of such hypothetical [[taxa]], as does [[biogeography]] due to its remote location. At least one, possibly several ''[[Gallirallus]]'' and / or ''[[Porzana]]'' [[rail (bird)|rail]]s make the most likely candidates, given their former presence in the region, and that conditions on Kiritimati would seem well suited. Perhaps a ''[[Todiramphus]]'' [[kingfisher]] was also present; such a bird would probably have belonged to the [[sacred kingfisher]] (''T.&nbsp;sanctus'') group, as that species today occurs as a vagrant in [[Micronesia]], and related forms are resident in southeastern [[Polynesia]]. These birds would have fallen victim to the [[Polynesian rat]]. In the case of the rails (which would have almost certainly been [[flightless birds|flightless]]) hunting by occasionally resident Polynesians, in addition to predation by the imported rats, likely contributed to their extinction.<ref name=Steadman/>