{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "takahe",
  "name": "South Island Takahe",
  "scientificName": "Porphyrio hochstetteri",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The South Island takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is a flightless purple swamphen of New Zealand alpine tussock, once thought extinct until rediscovered in Fiordland in 1948. Adults weigh about 3 kg, graze tussock stems, and are Endangered under intensive translocation to sanctuaries and islands.",
  "conservationStatus": "Endangered",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Gruiformes",
    "family": "Rallidae",
    "genus": "Porphyrio"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 3,
    "lengthM": 0.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 10,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Porphyrio hochstetteri"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Herbivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Alpine tussock grasslands"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Around 20 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "About 3 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to roughly 10 km/h when moving at speed."
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Endangered (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Alpine grasslands of New Zealand's South Island; also sanctuary islands.",
    "continents": [
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/takahe/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/takahe/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}