Ascension Crake vs African Swamphen
Mundia elpenor compared with Porphyrio madagascariensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ascension Crake | African Swamphen |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mundia elpenor | Porphyrio madagascariensis |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae | Rallidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | — |
| Weight | — | 608.0 g (21.45 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Extinct
Ascension Crake
Not Evaluated
African Swamphen
About These Birds
Ascension Crake
Ascension Crake (Mundia elpenor) is an extinct flightless rail formerly endemic to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. Known from early 17th-century descriptions by Portuguese sailors; no physical specimens survive. Dark plumage; reduced wings. Extirpated rapidly after human arrival and introduction of cats and rats, likely by the mid-1600s.
African Swamphen
African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) is a 38–50 cm large gallinule of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Deep blue-purple with greenish back, massive red bill and frontal shield, and red legs. Inhabits papyrus swamps, lake shores, and dense reed beds. Similar to Purple Swamphen but restricted to Africa.