The Key to Scientific Names

Edited by James A. Jobling
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aix

Gr. αιξ aix, αιγος aigos  large web-footed bird mentioned by Aristotle, not further identified, but since conjectured to be a small goose or a large duck (cf. genus Aix Boie, 1828, duck) (syn. Aix sponsa).


AIX

(Anatidae; Ϯ Wood Duck A. sponsa) Gr. αιξ aix, αιγος aigos  large web-footed bird mentioned by Aristotle, not further identified, but since conjectured to be a small goose or a large duck. According to Gessner 1555, Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and other authors this was also a name for the Lapwing Vanellus (cf. αιξ aix, αιγος aigos  goat); "Fam. Anatidae Leach.  ...  Gattung Aix. 3   Hierher aus Asien: 1. Anas galericulata Lin.  2. — falcaria Pall.   America: 3. Anas sponsa Lin. Wils. pl. 70. fig. 3.  ...  Name eines Wasservogels bey Aristot." (Boie 1828); "Aix Boie, Isis, 21, 1828, p. 329. Type, by subsequent designation, Anas sponsa Linné. (Eyton, Monogr. Anat., 1838, p. 35.)" (Peters, 1931, I, p. 170).
Var. AexAia.
Synon. CosmonessaDendronessa, Lampronessa.


Aixopsis

(Anatidae; syn. Amazonetta Brazilian Teal A. brasiliensis) Genus Aix Boie, 1828, duck; Gr. οψις opsis  appearance; "Sarcelle du Brésil.  Cette espèce est tout à fait particulière par la voix, la forme et les allures, et appartient certainement à la sous-famille des Carininés.  Sa queue est relativement large et longue; ses pattes sont placées bien plus en avant que celles des Anas.  La voix chex les deux sexes, leurs parades d'amour, des habitudes percheuses et forestières la rapprochent sûrement des Aix.  Pour la transférer auprès d'eux, je suis obligé de proposer pour elle le nom générique: Aixopsis gen. nov.  type: Anas brasiliensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, pt. 2, 1879 [sic], p. 519 (Brésil)" (Delacour 1936); "Aixopsis Delacour, 1936, L'Oiseau Rev. Franç. Ornith., VI (3), p. 376.  Type, by original designation, Anas brasiliensis Gmelin, 1789." (JAJ 2020).


caixana

● Caixana, an indigenous people of upper Amazonia, north-western Brazil (Laurent Raty in litt.) (syn. Coccycua minuta).
● Rio da Caixa, Bahia, north-eastern Brazil (Björn Bergenholtz in litt.) (subsp. Eupsittula cactorum).
Von Spix 1824, the author of both of these names, gave no etymology. Laurent highlights von Spix's classical background, believes that the name is a noun in apposition, and, in both cases despite their disjunct ranges, refers to the Caixana people. However, since the parrot seems not to occur within the territories of the Caixana, I believe that Björn's suggestion is a more reasonable assumption. Another interesting alternative derives from the Portuguese name, caixa, for a box, the parrot being named from a clipped cage-bird (the provenance of which is unknown, but which may have been transported from elsewhere in Brazil).


corythaix

Gr. κορυθαιξ koruthaix  with waving plumes, helmet-shaking  < κορυς korus, κορυθος koruthos  helmet; αισσω aissō  to move rapidly.
● ex “Touraco Louri” of Levaillant 1816, pl. 16 (Tauraco).


Corythaix

Gr. κορυθαιξ koruthaix  with waving plumes, helmet-shaking  < κορυς korus, κορυθος koruthos  helmet; αισσω aissō  to move quickly.
● (Musophagidae; quasi-syn. Tauraco † White-cheeked Turaco T. leucotis) "23. CORYTHAIX, Ill. —  53. leucotis, Ill." (Bonaparte 1854); "Corythaix "Ill." Bonaparte, 1854, Conspectus Volucrum Anisodactylorum, p. 3.  Type, by monotypy, Corythaix leucotis, Illiger, i.e. Corythaix leucotis Rüppell, 1835." (JAJ 2022).
● (Musophagidae; syn. Tauraco Guinea Turaco T. persa) "GENUS 6. CORYTHAIX (κορυθαιξ  galeae cristam movens)  Turacus Cuv.  Turaco La Cép. Dum.  (Trägvogel Germ.  Touraco Gall.)  ...  Species: Cuculus Persa Lin." (Illiger 1811); "Corythaix Illiger, 1811, Prodromus Systematis Mammalium et Avium, p. 202.  Type, by monotypy, Cuculus persa Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2020) (see Corythrix).


CORYTHAIXOIDES

(Musophagidae; Grey Go-away-bird C. concolor) Genus Corythaix Illiger, 1811, turaco; Gr. -οιδης -oidēs  resembling; the Grey Go-away-bird is a familiar bird of the southern Afrotropics, well-known for its loud, nasal cries, ‘g’WAY g’WAY’; "Corythaix concolor.   ...   Inhabits South Africa, inland of Port Natal.  It was remarked that this bird differed in several points, particularly in the form of the bill, from the typical species of the genus, and that it might hereafter require to be made the type of a new division, under the name of Corythaixoides." (A. Smith 1833); "Corythaixoides A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 2nd ser. p. 48, 1833.  Type by original designation, Corythaix concolor Smith." (W. Sclater, 1924, Syst. Av. Aethiop., I, p. 196).
Synon. Coliphimus, Gymnoschizorhis.


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