Porphyrio, the swamp hen, enters the LRT, not with rails, but with other hens
Traditionally
the tropical shoreline-dweller, Porphyrio porphyrio (Figs 1,2), is considered a rail. But rails, like Raillus, have a long slender beak with gracile elements and a large naris.
By contrast,
the swamp hen has a robust beak, and a long list of other traits that ally it with the temperate, forest-dwelling turkey, Melagris, both derived from the tropical helmeted guineafowl, Numida.
Porphyrio porphyrio
(Brisson 1760) is the extant swamp hen, a tropical omnivore here nesting with the temperate turkey, Meleagris. It is traditionally considered a rail, a clade within Gruiformes (cranes). The common name turns out to be closer as the swamp hen nests closer to hens in the LRT.
This is yet another indication
to avoid genomic testing and only use phenomic (trait-based) testing in deep time studies. Genes nest ducks with chickens, flamingos with grebes, horses with bats and other untenable pairings that academics are only too eager to embrace without questioning. You can learn more by testing traits yourself because science is falsifiable.
Here’s a YouTuve video
to see swamphens in action without narration.
Note: Oddly it starts with a freeze frame, then goes into action).
Thanks are due
to a reader’s friend for suggesting this taxon. It became a nice break from fish.
References
Brisson MJ 1760. Ornithologia 1.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/01/24/porphyrio-the-swamp-hen-enters-the-lrt-not-with-rails-but-with-other-hens/
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