Samoan woodhen

Samoan woodhen
Drawing by Joseph Smit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Gallinula
Species:
G. pacifica
Binomial name
Gallinula pacifica
Synonyms

Gallinula pacificus (lapsus)
Pareudiastes pacificus (1871)

The Samoan woodhen (Gallinula pacifica), also known as Samoan wood rail, is a nearly flightless rail endemic to the Samoan island of Savai'i that is Critically Endangered. As it has evolved adaptations for a more terrestrial lifestyle and at least partly nocturnal habits, it is probably better placed in a distinct genus, Pareudiastes (which sometimes includes the more distinct Makira wood rail too[3]), but this issue has not yet been thoroughly researched. It was known as puna'e ("one that jumps up") to the native Samoans; this was said to relate to the bird's habit of making a jumping dash into cover when startled from its resting place.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2013). "Gallinula pacifica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hartlaub was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Olson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).