The Key to Scientific Names
- Eumeleagris
(Phasianidae; syn. Meleagris † Ocellated Turkey M. ocellata) Gr. ευ eu fine; genus Meleagris Linnaeus, 1758, turkey; "M. ocellatus is the very beautiful Turkey of Central America, especially Yucatan and Honduras, smaller than ours, but much more richly iridescent and eyed on some of the plumage like a Peacock; there is no bristly beard on the breast; the excrescences on the head are peculiar; the spurs of the ♂ are long and sharp, like gaffs. Its characters entitle it to recognition as a subgenus at least, if not a full genus, which may be named Eumeleagris" (Coues 1903); "Eumeleagris Coues, 1903, Key North American Birds, 5th ed., II, p. 727. Type, by monotypy, M. ocellatus, i.e. Meleagris ocellata Cuvier, 1820." (JAJ 2021).
- meleagris
L. meleagris, meleagridis guineafowl < Gr. μελεαγρις meleagris, μελεαγριδος meleagridos guineafowl (e.g. spotted and streaked).
● "O. Meleagris Wagl. ... In der Färbung ist dieses prachtvolle Zahnhuhn mit unserem europäischen Frankolin, aber noch mehr mit dem madagascarischen (Perd. madagasc. et P. perlata Lath.) verwandt, und bildet dadurch den Uebergang zu diesen Hühnern von den Zahnhühnern. — Hernandez beschreibt es nicht." (Wagler 1832) (syn. Cyrtonyx montezumae).
● "Magnitudo Galli ... Occiput et nucha plumis arriguis, linearibus, (ut in gallis castratis sunt) gryseo-albis" (Pallas 1811) (syn. Neophron percnopterus).
● "90. PHASIANUS. ... Meleagris. 2. P. vertice calloso, temporibus carunculatis. Gallina vertice corneo. Hasselqv. iter. 274. Gallus vertice corneo. Syst. nat. 28. Gallina guinea. Worm. mus. 297. Gallina africana. Marcgr. bras. 78. Gallus niger, maculis ovalibus & orbiculatis. Barr. av. 79.* Gallina guineensis. Worm. mus. 297. t. 297. Olear. mus. . t. 15. f. 3. Raj. av. 52. Alb. av. 2. p. 32. t. 35. Will. orn. 162. t. 26. Aldr. av. l. 14. c. 13. Habitat in Africa." (Linnaeus 1758) (Numida).- MELEAGRIS
(Phasianidae; Ϯ Wild Turkey M. gallopavo) Gr. μελεαγρις meleagris, μελεαγριδος meleagridos guineafowl; "88. MELEAGRIS. Caput carunculis spongiosis tectum." (Linnaeus 1758); "Meleagris Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, p. 156. Type, by tautonymy, Meleagris gallopavo Linné (Meleagris, prebinomial specific name in synonymy.)" (Peters, 1934, II, p. 139). Linnaeus's Meleagris comprised three species (M. Gallopavo, M. cristata, M. Satyra). The names Turkey, Turkeycock and Turkeyhen were used for guineafowl from the 16th to the early 18th centuries because they were brought from Africa to Europe through the Ottoman or Turkish dominions. By this confusion Linnaeus used the generic term Meleagris for the American Wild Turkey, which was unknown to the ancients. When the guineafowl and turkey were subsequently distinguished as separate species Turkey was retained for the American bird.
Var. Maleagris, Meliagris, Melaeacris.
Synon. Agriocharis, Cochramus, Eumeleagris, Cynchramus, Gallopavo, Meleagrops, Parapavo, Pseudotaon.
● (Numididae; syn. Numida Ϯ Helmeted Guineafowl N. meleagris) “48. MELEAGRIS.* Galli species. LINN. gen. 66., ed. 6. gen. 68. Peintade. PERR. Mem. d. Anim. 134. t. p. 134. opt. ... Obs. Quia Parisienses ap. PERRAVLT l. c. abunda probauerunt, has esse Veterum Meleagrides, gener huici merito nomen uindicaui.” (Moehring, 1752, Avium Genera, p. 52 (pre-Linnaean)); “NUMIDA, L. Meleagris, Mœhr. N. meleagris, L., Pl. enl. 108.” (G. Gray 1840); “Meleagris “Moehr.” G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 60. Type, by original designation, Phasianus meleagris Linnaeus, 1758.” (JAJ 2023).
