New Zealand giant crake

New Zealand giant crake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Porzana
Species:
P. hodgenorum
Binomial name
Porzana hodgenorum
(Scarlett, 1955)
Synonyms
  • Rallus hodgeni Scarlett, 1955
  • Gallinula (Tribonyx) hodgeni (Scarlett, 1955)
  • Gallinula (Tribonyx) hodgenorum (Scarlett, 1955)

The New Zealand giant crake or Hodgens’ Waterhen (Porzana hodgenorum) is an extinct rail species from New Zealand. Its name commemorates J. and R. Hodgen who were owners of the Pyramid Valley swamp where the holotype was discovered. It reached a weight of 280 g and its wings were so reduced that it was unable to fly. It occupied a wide range of habitats, including open forest and grassland along riverbanks.