Porphyrio, also known as swamphens or swamp hens, is a genus of semi-aquatic birds in the rail family Rallidae. It includes some smaller species of gallinules which are sometimes separated as the genus Porphyrula or united with the gallinules proper (or "moorhens") in the genus Gallinula. The Porphyrio gallinules are distributed in the warmer regions of the world. The group probably originated in Africa in the Middle Miocene, before spreading across the world in waves from the Late Miocene to the Pleistocene.
The genus Porphyrio was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) as the type species. The genus name Porphyrio is the Latin name for "swamphen".
Species The genus contains 10 extant species and two that have become extinct in historical times:
Extant species Purple swamphen complex Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus Philippine swamphen, Porphyrio pulverulentus Australasian swamphen or pūkeko, Porphyrio melanotus South Island takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri Allen's gallinule or lesser gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (formerly Porphyrula alleni) American purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (formerly Porphyrula martinica) Azure gallinule, Porphyrio flavirostris
Extinct species White swamphen or Lord Howe swamphen Porphyrio albus (early 19th century) Réunion swamphen or , Porphyrio coerulescens (18th century, hypothetical species) Marquesas swamphen, Porphyrio paepae (prehistoric or ) North Island takahē or , Porphyrio mantelli (prehistoric or the 1890s) New Caledonian swamphen, Porphyrio kukwiedei (prehistoric or more recent) Huahine swamphen, Porphyrio mcnabi (prehistoric) Porphyrio claytongreenei (prehistoric) Buka swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (prehistoric) New Ireland swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (prehistoric) Norfolk Island swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (prehistoric) Rota swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (prehistoric) Mangaia swamphen/woodhen, ?Porphyrio sp. (prehistoric) - would belong into Porphyrula, Gallinula or Pareudiastes (the latter genus if it is considered valid)
References
Taylor, P. Barry & van Perlo, Ber (1998): Rails: a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven.
External links
Swamphens fighting, Centennial Park, Sydney, YouTube Swamphens fighting, Centennial Park, Sydney, YouTube