Porphyrio is a genus of birds with a distribution in the warmer regions of Africa and the Americas, barely reaching into Asia and Europe.
Living species
- Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
- Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrios hochstetteri
- Allen’s Gallinule also known as Lesser Gallinule, Porphyrios alleni (formerly Porphyrula alleni)
- American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrios martinica (formerly Porphyrula martinica)
- Azure Gallinule, Porphyrios flavirostris
- African Purple Swamphen formerly known as African Purple Gallinule, Porphyrios madagascariensis (formerly Porphyrios porphyrios)
Extinct species
- Lord Howe Swamphen, Porphyrios albus (early 19th century)
- Réunion Swamphen or Oiseau bleu, Porphyrios coerulescens (18th century, hypothetical species)
- Marquesas Swamphen, Porphyrios paepae (prehistoric or c.1900)
- North Island Takahē or mōho, Porphyrios mantelli (prehistoric or 1890s)
- New Caledonian Swamphen, Porphyrio kukwiedei (prehistoric or more recent)
- Huahine Swamphen, Porphyrios mcnabi (prehistoric)
- Buka Swamphen, Porphyrios sp. (prehistoric)
- Giant Swamphen, Porphyrios sp. (prehistoric)
- New Ireland Swamphen, Porphyrios sp. (prehistoric)
- Norfolk Island Swamphen, Porphyrios sp. (prehistoric)
- Rota Swamphen, Porphyrios sp. (prehistoric)
- Mangaia Swamphen/Woodhen,?Porphyrios sp. (prehistoric) – would belong into Porphyrula, Gallinula or Pareudiastes
Rails
