Gallinule
n.
One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a frontal shield, belonging to the family Rallidae . They are remarkable for running rapidly over marshes and on floating plants. The purple gallinule of America is Ionornis Martinica , that of the Old World is Porphyrio porphyrio . The common European gallinule ( Gallinula chloropus ) is also called moor hen , water hen , water rail , moor coot , night bird , and erroneously dabchick . Closely related to it is the Florida gallinule ( Gallinula galeata ).
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