Gallinula angulata Sundevall, 1851 The lesser moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae.
The lesser moorhen was formerly placed in the genus Gallinula, but a 2015 molecular genetic study demonstrated that Gallinula was composed of four distinct lineages.
The genus was split into four genera: Gallinula (sensu stricto), Paragallinula, Porphyriops, and Tribonyx.
The name paragallinula comes from the Greek para 'beside' and the genus Gallinula.
It is named for its similarity with the members of Gallinula, but it also indicates its unique genetic lineage.