Scientific Name:
Jacana spinosa
(Linnaeus 1758 ‘Fulica spinosa’)
Jacana – Portuguese Jaçanã derived from Tupi language of Brazilian indigenous tribes y-acã-nã (soft c) meaning ‘that which has a loud voice’.
spinosa – Latin; spinosus thorny (spina thorn).
Northern Jacana Fact File
Distribution: Mexico to western Panama and the Caribbean
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Subspecies:
• J. s. gymnostoma (Wagler 1831) Greek gumnos bare, naked; stoma mouth – Mexico from South Central Sinaloa and Central Tamaulipas, south to Chiapas, Yacutan and Cozumel Island. Rarely south-east Texas.
• J. s. spinosa (Linnaeus 1758) Latin; spinosus thorny (spina thorn) – Belize and Guatemala south to western Panama.
• J. s. violacea (Cory 1881) Latin violaceus violet-coloured, violaceous (viola violet) – Cuba, Isle of Pines, Jamaica and Hispaniola.
Further Reading: Northern Jacana in Texas. / The World’s Wattled Waders
Current conservation efforts
None
Gallery
With thanks to the following photographers:
Juan Zamora; Rudy Garns; Juan Jose Montero Rodriguez; Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren;
Where stated, images are subject to CC license