Porphyrio, BRISSON, 1760

Worthy, Trevor H. & Burley, David V., 2020, Prehistoric avifaunas from the Kingdom of Tonga, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189, pp. 998-1045 : 1030

PORPHYRIO BRISSON, 1760

PORPHYRIO MELANOTUS TEMMINCK, 1820, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC SWAMPHEN

Material: Hopoate: NISP = 1, MNI = 1. Nukuleka: NISP = 3, MNI = 1. Falevai: NISP = 1, MNI = 1. Ofu: NISP = 1, MNI = 1. Vuna: NISP = 1, MNI = 1.

Remarks: We follow Sangster et al. (1998) and Gill et al. (2010) in recognizing the swamphens from Australia, Moluccas, New Guinea through Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Niue as a distinct species. It is a common, widespread species in the tropical Pacific ( Steadman, 2006a; Worthy et al., 2015). The coracoid is distinguished from those of other rails in the region by its elongate crista procoracoideus, which extends close to the crista medialis, and less medially projected processus acrocoracoideus. The tibiotarsi are smaller than those referred to H. vavauensis and differ by, in lateral aspect, the caudal side of the condylus lateralis extending further proximal than the cranial side, having a thicker margin to the medial side of the sulcus extensorius, and a wider incisura intercotylaris such that the condylus medialis lies wholly mesad of the canalis extensorius.

PROCELLARIIFORMES FÜRBRINGER, 1888

PROCELLARIIDAE LEACH, 1820