Samoan Moorhen

SCI Name:  Gallinula pacifica
Protonym:  Pareudiastes pacificus Proc.Zool.Soc.London Pt1 p.25 pl.2
Taxonomy:  Gruiformes / Rallidae / Gallinula
Taxonomy Code:  sammoo1
Type Locality:  Savaii, Samoan Islands.
Author:  Hartlaub & Finsch
Publish Year:  1871
IUCN Status:  Critically Endangered

DEFINITIONS

GALLINULA
(Rallidae; Ϯ Common Moorhen G. chloropus) Late Med. L. gallinula  moorhen or waterhen, so named for its cocked tail and halting progress  < L. gallinula  little hen, chicken  < dim. gallina  hen   < gallus  cockerel; "Gallinula. Genus 88.  ...  **1. LA POULE-D'EAU ...  GALLINULA.  ...  Elle est à peu près de la grosseur d'une petite Poule.  ...  On les trouve dans les rivieres & les étangs. Elles font leur nid dans les broussailles qui se trouvent sur leurs bords" (Brisson 1760): based on "Gallinula Chloropus" of Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and many other authors, and Fulica Chloropus Linnaeus, 1758; "Gallinula Brisson, Orn., 1760, 1, p. 50; 6, p. 2. Type, by tautonymy, Gallinula Brisson = Fulica chloropus Linné." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 202).  This genus formerly included Paragallinula, Porphyriops, Porphyriornis and Tribonyx.  
Var. Callinula, Galinula.
Synon. Hydrogallina, Stagnicola.

gallinula
Late Med. L. gallinula  moorhen or waterhen  < L. gallinula  little hen  < dim. gallina  hen  < gallus  cockerel.
● ex “Gallinago minima” of Belon 1555, “Gid,” “Jack-Snipe” or “Judcock” of Ray 1713, and “Petite Beccassine” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Lymnocryptes minima).

pacifica
L. pacificus  peaceful  < pax, pacis  peace; facere  to make. The Pacific Ocean was so-named by the Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães or Magellan in 1520, contrasting its calm waters with the stormy seas of Cape Horn  The toponym refers to islands in the Pacific Ocean as well as localities on Pacific Ocean coasts.
● New Caledonia; ex “Pacific Shrike” of Latham 1781 (syn. Aplonis striata).
● New South Wales, Australia; ex “Pacific Heron” of Latham 1785 (Ardea).
● Pacific Ocean; ex “Pacific Petrel” of Latham 1785; "Inhabits Euopoa, and other islands of the Pacific Ocean." (Ardenna).
● Erroneous TL. Friendly Is. (= Hawaii); ex “Great Hook-billed Creeper” of Latham 1782 (‡Drepanis).
● Tonga Is.; ex “Ferruginous-vented Pigeon” of Latham 1783 (Ducula).
● Erroneous TL. Friendly Isles, Pacific Ocean (= Jamaica) (syn. Geotrygon versicolor).
● Botany Bay, New Holland; ex “Pacific Paroquet (var.)” of Phillip 1789 (syn. Glossopsitta concinna).
● Tahiti; ex “Pacific Rail” of Latham 1785 (Hypotaenidia).
● Pacific Islands; ex “Pacific Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Lalage maculosa).