Lesser moorhen

The lesser moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is sometimes placed into the genus Gallinula. It is the only member of the genus Paragallinula.^[2]

Lesser moorhen
Matetsi Safari Area, Zimbabwe
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Gruiformes
Family:	Rallidae
Genus:	Paragallinula Sangster, Garcia-R & Trewick, 2015
Species:	P. angulata
Binomial name
Paragallinula angulata (Sundevall, 1850)
Synonyms
Gallinula angulata Sundevall, 1851

Taxonomy

The lesser moorhen was formerly placed in the genus Gallinula, but a 2015 molecular genetic study demonstrated that Gallinula was composed of four distinct lineages. The genus was split into four genera: Gallinula (sensu stricto), Paragallinula, Porphyriops, and Tribonyx.^[3]

P. angulata is the only known species of Paragallinula which makes Paragallinula a monotypic genus.

The name paragallinula comes from the Greek para 'beside' and the genus Gallinula. It is named for its similarity with the members of Gallinula, but it also indicates its unique genetic lineage.^[3]

Distribution

The lesser moorhen is widely spread across Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding Southern Africa and Madagascar).^[1] It was once recorded in the Western Palearctic as a rare vagrant.^[4] This species has also been sighted in Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, and Oman.^[1][5]