Porphyrio is thegenus 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, Porphyrio hochstetteri
- Allen’s Gallinule also known as Lesser Gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (formerly Porphyrula alleni)
- American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica (formerly Porphyrula martinica)
- Azure Gallinule, Porphyrio flavirostris
- African Purple Swamphen formerly known as African Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio madagascariensis (formerly Porphyrio porphyrio)
Extinct species
- Lord Howe Swamphen, Porphyrio albus (early 19th century)
- Réunion Swamphen or Oiseau bleu, Porphyrio coerulescens (18th century, hypothetical species)
- Marquesas Swamphen, Porphyrio paepae (prehistoric or c.1900)
- North Island Takahē or mōho, Porphyrio mantelli (prehistoric or 1890s)
- New Caledonian Swamphen, Porphyrio kukwiedei (prehistoric or more recent)
- Huahine Swamphen, Porphyrio mcnabi (prehistoric)
- Buka Swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (prehistoric)
- Giant 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
Rails
