The Key to Scientific Names
- AMMOPERDIX
(Phasianidae; Ϯ Sand Partridge A. heyi) Gr. αμμος ammos sand; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "AMMOPERDIX HEYI. Hey's Sand Partridge. ... This beautiful little Partridge inhabits the extensive plains and rocky districts of Arabia, and doubtless extends its range to the confines of Persia, and there inosculates with the Ammoperdix Bonhami. The merit of its discovery is due to M. Hey, the companion of that intrepid traveller Dr. Rüppell; and that of first making it known to science to the veteran ornithologist M. Temminck, who assigned to it the specific name of Heyi as a just compliment to its discoverer, and who has published in his "Planches Coloriées" an excellent figure and description of it from specimens killed by M. Hey in the deserts of Acaba in Arabia." (Gould 1851); "Ammoperdix Gould, Bds. Asia, pt. 3, 1851, pl. 4, 5 and text. Type, by subsequent designation, Perdix heyi Temminck. (Reichenbach, Av. Syst. Nat., 1852 (1853), p. xxviii.)" (Peters, 1934, II, p. 59).
- CALOPERDIX
(Phasianidae; Ϯ Ferruginous Partridge C. oculeus) Gr. καλος kalos beautiful; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge. "PERDRIX OCULÉE. Perdix oculea Mihi. VOICI encore une espèce de Perdrix nouvelle, dont je ne puis offrir que le signalement des couleurs très agréablement distribuées, qui ornent son plumage." (Temminck 1815); "These are the only Deer of Burmá, until southward, in the provinces of Tavoy and Mergui, we come more emphatically on the Malayan Fauna and Flora, when the little Chevrotain, TRAGULUS KANCHIL, occurs, together with the Malayan Tapir, and in Mergui the GALÆOPITHECUS, ARGUS GIGANTEUS, EUPLOCOMUS VIEILLOTI, ROLLULUS CRISTATUS, CALOPERDIX OCELLATUS, and other Malayan peninsula and Sumatran species." (Blyth 1861); "Caloperdix Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, 30, 1861, p. 193, note, in text. Type, by monotypy, Caloperdix ocellatus = Cryptonyx ocellatus = Perdix oculea Temminck." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 103).
Var. Calloperdix.- Columbiperdix
(Columbidae; syn. Starnoenas † Blue-headed Partridge Dove S. cyanocephala) L. columba pigeon; perdix, perdicis partridge < Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "STARNŒNAS, Bonap. Columba, L. Turtur, Less. Columbiperdix, Levaill. Lophyrus, Less. Goura, Steph. S. cyanocephala, (L.) Bonap., Pl. enl. 174." (G. Gray 1840); "Columbiperdix "Levaill." G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 58. Alternative name for Starnoenas Bonaparte, 1838." (JAJ 2021).
- Dendroperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Ortygornis Ϯ Crested Francolin O. sephaena) Gr. δενδρον dendron tree; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Dendroperdix gen.nov., genotype Perdix sephaena A. Smith, differs from the preceding [Peliperdix] in not having the membrane over the nostrils extended in a broad band across the base of the culmen, and in general appearance and habits is otherwise so different that there should be no hesitation in recognising it; the sexes are alike in colour, but the males are larger and have a large sharp spur. Members of the genus frequent forests and to one acquainted with its call-notes there is never any difficulty in identifying them. The nasal operculum is more elongate than in other genera, situated high up, and the shape of the primaries differs from that of the two following genera [Ortygornis, Scleroptila], in which the second outermost is more emarginate. There are two distinct species within our limits, namely, D. sephaena in the "bushveld" districts and D. rovuma (formerly known as kirki, as to which see C. Grant, Ibis, 1915, p. 12) on the coast belt of the lower Zambesi valley." (A. Roberts 1922); "Dendroperdix A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 194. Type, by original designation, Perdix sephaena A. Smith, 1836." (JAJ 2020).
- GALLOPERDIX
(Phasianidae; Ϯ Red Spurfowl G. spadiceus) Portmanteau of genera Gallus Brisson, 1760, fowl, and Perdix Brisson, 1760, partridge; "In the same work [Delessert 1843] are figured and described, or only described ... 3. As Francolinus Hardwickii, Gray, the Perdix lunulosa, Valenciennes, v. Fr. nivosus, Mag. de Zool., 1840, Ois. pl. 18; if indeed this be not also the Cingalese, Perdix bicalcaratus of Pennant, which I greatly suspect. The form, to which P. spadiceus also belongs, I regard as constituting a very distinct genus — Galloperdix, Nobis." (Blyth 1844); "Galloperdix Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, 13, pt. 2, 1844, p. 936, note. Type, by monotypy, P. spadiceus = Tetrao spadicea Gmelin." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 106).
Synon. Hepburnia, Plectroperdix.
● (Phasianidae; quasi-syn. Galloperdix † Painted Spurfowl G. lunulata) “Genera et Species typicae. ... 3. a. *Galloperdix Blyth. lunulatus (Perd. — Valenc.) Bl. Ic. Av. t. 319. ic. 2538. t. 320. ic. 2904. t. 321. ic. 1770.” (Reichenbach 1853); “Galloperdix “Blyth” Reichenbach, 1853, Avium Systema Naturale, p. XXVIII (not of Blyth, 1844). Type, by original designation, Perdix lunulata Valenciennes, 1825.” (JAJ 2023).- Hyloperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Arborophila † Hill Partridge A. torqueola) Gr. ὑλη hulē woodland, forest; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Hyloperdix, pro Arboricola et Arborophila! Hdgs (torqueola Valenc., megapodius Temm.) et Tropicoperdice Blyth (javanica Lth): pedibus altis, digitis longis, rostro minore, dertro vix fornicato, naribus longitudinalibus, cauda parva. - Nomen: ὑλη, silva, ob vitam, in fruticetis" (Sundevall 1873); "Hyloperdix Sundevall, 1873, Methodi Naturalis Avium Dispon. Tentamen, pt. II, p. 116. New name for Arborophila Hodgson, 1837, considered barbarous because of its hybrid Latin and Greek construction." (JAJ 2021).
- MARGAROPERDIX
(Phasianidae; † Madagascar Partridge M. madagarensis) Gr. μαργαρον margaron pearl; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Pectus nigrum, maculis rotundis albis variegatum" (Scopoli 1786 (ed. Newton 1882)); "Genera et Species typicae. ... 3. a. *Margaroperdix Rchb. madagascariensis (Tetrao — Scop.) R. Ic. Av. t. 311. ic. 1704—5." (Reichenbach 1853); "Margaroperdix Reichenbach, 1853, Avium Systema Naturale, p. XXVIII. Type by original designation, Tetrao madagascariensis = Tetrao madagarensis Scopoli, 1786." (JAJ 2020).
Var. Margaropedrix.- Megaloperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Tetraogallus † Caucasian Snowcock T. caucasicus) Gr. μεγας megas, μεγαλη megalē great; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Als besonders interessant Erwerbungen nenne ich Buceros galeatus, Tragopon [sic] Hastingii, Psilopogon porphyrolophus, Erythrogenys cincta, Francolinus gularis und bicalcaratus, so wie das alte Männchen von der sehr seltenen, wie Perdix (Megaloperdix) altaica, riesenhaften Perdix (Megaloperdix) caucasica." (Brandt 1841); "Megaloperdix Brandt, 1841, Bulletin Scientifique Acad. Imp. Sciences St.-Pétersbourg, VIII (12), col. 190. Type, by subsequent designation (Ogilvie-Grant, 1893, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXII, p. 103), Tetrao caucasica Pallas, 1811. The typification of Tetraogallus himalayensis G. Gray, 1843, by G. Gray, 1855, Cat. Genera Subgenera Birds Brit. Mus., p. 107, is erroneous (not an originally included taxon)." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Megoloperdix.- MELANOPERDIX
(Phasianidae; Ϯ Black Partridge M. niger) Gr. μελας melas, μελανος melanos black; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "As a very anomalous form of spurless Partridges might here be placed Rollulus (formerly Cryptonyx) coronatus, the crowned Partridge of Malacca, extending to Mergui, remarkable for wanting the claw of the hind toe; and R. niger, (the female of which is R. ferrugineus of Gray in Hardwicke's Illustration,) the type of Melanoperdix, which possesses a minute hind claw. Gray places these birds in a distinct sub-family (Rollulinæ, Bonap.,) in which I think he is right; indeed from their coloration, the fan-like crest, and the different colour of the sexes, they ought rather to be placed with the Gallinæ than with the Partridges." (Jerdon 1864); "Melanoperdix Jerdon, Bds. India, 3, 1864, p. 580. Type, by original designation, Cryptonyx niger Vigors." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 91).
- Microperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Perdicula † Painted Bush Quail P. erythrorhyncha) Gr. μικρος mikros small; περιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "MICROPERDIX ERYTHRORHYNCHA. Little Red-billed Partridge. ... THE little bird figured in the accompanying Plate [3] may claim the precedence in point of beauty over all the smaller Gallinaceæ, its form and contour being especially elegant. It appears to me to be very closely allied to the Excalfactoria Chinensis of China and the little Bush Partridges of Australia, figured in my work on the birds of that country under the generic appellation of Synoicus; at the same time it is quite distinct from both those forms. Neither can I for a moment hesitate about separating it from the small Bush Partridges (Perdiculæ) of India, with which it has hitherto been associated, — those birds having stout and deeply formed bills, and being clothed in a very different style of plumage; I have therefore made it the type of a new genus — Microperdix." (Gould 1862); "Microperdix Gould, 1862, Birds of Asia, (part xiv), VII, pl. 3 and text. Type, by original designation, Coturnix erythrorhyncha Sykes, 1832." (JAJ 2021).
- Moniliperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Scleroptila † Ring-necked Francolin S. streptophora) L. monile, monilis necklace, collar; perdix, perdicis partridge < Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge (AT; see Manuscript-names).
- Nyctiperdix
(Pteroclidae; syn. Pterocles † Double-banded Sandgrouse P. bicinctus) Gr. νυκτι- nukti- night-, nocturnal < νυξ nux, νυκτος nuktos night; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "In Pterocles bicinctus Temm. the middle tail feathers are not longer than the rest, in the typical Pterocles slightly longer, and in Pteroclurus namaquus very much longer; in addition to these differences, the typical Pterocles, which would include our P. gutturalis, is very much larger (wing length well over 200 mm.), P. bicinctus is intermediate in size (wing about 175 to 185 mm.) and Pteroclurus smallest (wing about 165 mm.), or of about the same size as the very distinct Calopterocles variegatus. In colour characters the three are equally distinct, and all in all I see no reason why Pterocles bicinctus Temminck should not have equal status with Pterocles and Pteroclurus as a distinct genus, for which I give the name of NYCTIPERDIX, making that species the genotype, characterised as stated above." (A. Roberts 1922); "Nyctiperdix A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 196. Type, by original designation, Pterocles bicinctus Temminck, 1815." (JAJ 2020).
- Oreoperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Arborophila † Taiwan Partridge A. crudigularis) Gr. ορος oros, ορεος oreos mountain (i.e. mountains of Formosa/Taiwan); περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Besides their peculiar red unspurred legs, thick black bill, and very short tail, the most striking peculiarity was in their all having an ugly raw-looking red patch on the throat. I thought it curious that all the birds should be so injured, if the pecularity arose from an injury; but, on examining them closely, I found that the bare throat was natural. ... They are not Arboricolæ, for they are of a different type, and, from their straight claws, certainly non-perching birds. They approach nearest the genus Ciccaba; but from these they differ in the unspurred leg, the short tail, and the thick bill. Therefore, though loth to multiply genera, I see no hope of avoiding it in this case; and, from their being denizens of the interior mountains, I propose to create for them the genus which I will proceed to define. OREOPERDIX, n. gen. ... OREOPERDIX CRUDIGULARIS, n. sp." (Swinhoe 1864); "Oreoperdix Swinhoe, 1864, Ibis, VI, p. 425. Type, by monotypy, Oreoperdix crudigularis Swinhoe, 1864." (JAJ 2021).
- palaeoperdix
Gr. παλαιος palaios ancient, old; genus Perdix Brisson, 1760, partridge (Perdix).
- Palaeoperdix
‡ (Phasianidae; syn. Coturnix Ϯ Celtic Quail C. longipes) Gr. παλαιος palaios old, ancient; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge.
- PELIPERDIX
(Phasianidae; † Latham's Francolin P. lathami) Hendrick Severinus Pel (1818-1876) Gov. of Dutch Gold Coast 1840-1850, naturalist, taxidermist; Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "67. Peliperdix. Bp. 186. lathami, Hartl. (peli, Temm.)" (Bonaparte 1856); "Peliperdix Bonaparte, 1856, Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris, XLII, p. 882. Type, by monotypy, Francolinus lathami Hartlaub, 1854." (JAJ 2020).
Synon. Afrocolinus, Perdicideus.- Peloperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Arborophila † Chestnut-necklaced Partridge A. charltonii) Gr. πηλος pēlos clay, mud; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Peloperdix, Blyth, founded on Perdix charltoni of Penang, is a distinct though affined form; and it appears to me that P. punctulata, Gray, figured in Hardwicke's Ill. Ind. Zool., is either the same bird as P. charltoni, or some nearly related species, perhaps P. chloropus, Blyth." (Jerdon 1864); "Peloperdix "Blyth" Jerdon, 1864, Birds of India, III, (II (2)), p. 579. Type, by original designation, Perdix charltonii Eyton, 1845." (JAJ 2021).
- perdix
L. perdix, perdicis partridge < Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge.
● “Magnitudine Perdicis s. C. Columba minor et probe distincta atque constans species” (Pallas 1811) (Brachyramphus).
● "Rhynchotus perdix ("Molina") Gray (and Mitchell), Gen. Bds., 3, p. [525], 1844—new name for Crypturus perdicarius Kittlitz; Pelzeln, Reise Novara, 1, Vögel, p. 113, 1865—Chile." (Hellmayr & Conover 1942, XIII, 88) (syn. Nothoprocta perdicaria).
● "91. TETRAO. ... Perdix. 9. T. pedibus nudis, macula nuda coccinea pone oculos, cauda ferruginea, sterno brunneo. Fn. svec. 172. Perdix cinerea. Aldr. orn. l. 13. c. 19. Jonst. av. 68. t. 27. f. 1. Will. orn. 119. t. 29. Raj. av. 57. Alb. av. l. p. 25. t. 27. Habitat in Europæ agris. Hyeme habitat intra fossas nivis utraque extremitate apertas." (Linnaeus 1758) (Perdix).- PERDIX
(Phasianidae; Ϯ Grey Partridge P. perdix) L. perdix, perdicis partridge < Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge (cf. Gr. myth. Perdix, noted artist and skilled craftsman, nephew of the jealous Daedalus, by whom he was murdered, then metamosphosed into a partridge); "Pedibus nudis: Cauda brevi. . . .Perdix. Genus 6. ... Genus Perdicis. Le genre du Perdrix ... **1. LA PERDRIX GRISE ... PERDIX CINEREA" (Brisson 1760): based on "Perdix" or "Perdix cinerea" of many authors; "Perdix Brisson, 1760, Ornithologie, I, pp. 26, 219. Type, by tautonymy, Perdix cinerea Brisson, 1760 = Tetrao perdix Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2023).
Var. Perdiz, Perdrix.
Synon. Sacfa, Starna.- Petroperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Pternistis † Swierstra’s Francolin P. swierstrai) Gr. πετρα petra rock; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge (AT; see Manuscript-names).
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Phaenicoperdix (See: Phoenicoperdix)
Phoenicoperdix (Phasianidae; syn. Arborophila † Green-legged Partridge A. chloropus) Gr. φοινιξ phoinix, φοινικος phoinikos palm-tree; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; " Gallinae. Neue Arten: ... Phoenicoperdix chloropus Blyth. J. As. S. Beng. Moulmein." (Hartlaub 1860); "2422. g. PHŒNICOPERDIX, Bl. 1859. 9725. chloropus, Bl." (G. Gray 1870); "Phoenicoperdix "Blyth" Hartlaub, 1860, Archiv für Naturgeschichte, XXVI (2), p. 99. Type, by monotypy, Tropicoperdix chloropus Blyth, 1859." (JAJ 2021). Perhaps this name is a misreading from Tropicoperdix chloropus, described from a collection made by Maj. S. Tickell of Moulmein.
Var. Phaenicoperdix.- Plectroperdix
(Phasianidae; syn. Galloperdix † Painted Spurfowl G. lunulata) Gr. πληκτρον plēktron cock’s spur; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "Genus Plectroperdix Heine [Hepburnia (!) Bp. 1853]" (Heine 1890); "Plectroperdix Heine, in Heine and Reichenow, 1890, Nomencl. Musei Heineani Ornith., p. 293. New name for Hepburnia Bonaparte, 1853, considered unacceptable because of its eponymous construction." (JAJ 2020).
- Plioperdix
‡ (Phasianidae; syn. Alectoris † Calixte's Partridge A. donnezani) Gr. πλειων pleiōn larger, more < comp. πολυς polus much; genus Perdix Brisson, 1760, partridge (cf. Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge). New name for Pliogallus Tugarinov, 1940, not of Gaillard, 1938.
- Taoperdix
‡ (Phasianidae; syn. Tetrao Ϯ Armissan Grouse T. pessieti) Gr. ταως taōs peacock; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "il se distinguent de ceux de tous les genres connus, et présentent des caractères spéciaux qui nécessitent l'établissement d'une division générique particulière, à laquelle je proposerai de donner le nom de Taoperdix. ... Le pelvis fossile se rapproche, à certains égards, de celui des Paons; on y observe la même forme raccourcie, le même évasement du bord postérieur, dont les contours sont arrondis au lieu d'être coupés carrément, comme chez les Phasianides et les Perdicides, ou d'être presque droits, comme chez les Tétraonides." (A. Milne Edwards 1871).
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Tetraeoperdix (See: Tetraoperdix)
Tetraoperdix (Phasianidae; syn. Lerwa † Snow Partridge L. lerwa) Compound of genera Tetrao Linnaeus, 1758, grouse, and Perdix Brisson, 1760, partridge; "Genus— LERWA nobis. ... The lateral small scales of the fore toes are free, giving the pectinated appearance of the feet in the grouse, to which genus our bird has numberless affinities, external and internal; so much so that Tetraoperdix might very well designate the new genus I have proposed for it, if that word were not somewhat unmanageable, in comparison of our Lerwa, which I have therefore preferred, native thought it be. ... These birds have the habits and manners of Tetrao rather than of Perdix. ... They are splendid game, with a vigorous flight, shy, and in size and strength equal to a grouse. Their flesh is white, succulent, and possessed of a very high flavour." (Hodgson 1837); "Tetraoperdix Hodgson, 1837, Madras Journ. Lit. Sci., V (15), p. 302. Alternative name for Lerwa Hodgson, 1837." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Tetraonoperdix, Tetraeoperdix.- TITANOPERDIX
(‡ Phasianidae; † Titan Partridge T. felixi) Gr. myth. Titan, a name given to the gigantic sons of Coelus and Terra; genus Perdix Brisson, 1760, partridge (Fred Ruhe in litt.)
- TROPICOPERDIX
(Phasianidae; † Scaly-breasted Partridge T. chloropus) Late L. tropicus tropical < L. tropicus of turning < Gr. τροπικος tropikos of the solstice < τροπη tropē turning < τρεπω trepō to change; L. perdix, perdicis partridge < Gr. περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; "TROPICOPERDIX (nobis) CHLOROPUS, Tickell, n. s. A third species of this group, which is founded on PERDIX PERSONATA, Horsfield, of Java, and P. CHARLTONI, Eyton, of Penang and Province Wellesley, which latter the present bird exactly resembles in size and structure. The form comes near to ARBORICOLA, but the straight claws are much less developed, and there is a characteristic difference of plumage." (Blyth 1859); "Tropicoperdix Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, 28, 1859, p. 415. Type, by subsequent designation, Tropicoperdix chloropus Blyth. (Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., 22, 1893, p. 205.)" (Peters, 1934, II, p. 102) (see Hyloperdix).
Var. Tropidoperdix.- XENOPERDIX
(Phasianidae; † Udzungwa Forest Partridge X. udzungwensis) Gr. ξενος xenos stranger; περδιξ perdix, περδικος perdikos partridge; “During fieldwork in montane evergreen forests in the Udzungwa Mountains, east of Iringa town, Tanzania, a new and very distinctive perdicine bird was discovered in July 1991 ... After studies of the literature and museum collections, and a comprehensive character anlysis, we conclude that the specimens represent a new species and genus of perdicine bird. We propose the generic name Xenoperdix, gen. nov. TYPE SPECIES Xenoperdix udzungwensis Dinesen, Hansen, Lehmberg, Svendsen & Fjeldså. ... ETYMOLOGY The genus name Xenoperdix comes from Greek xenos, strange or foreign, and Greek perdix, meaning partridge, and alludes to the peculiar combination of characters, making it a stranger among African partridge-like birds. The epithet refers to the Udzungwa Mountain Range, where the species was discovered.” (Dinesen et al. 1994); "Xenoperdix Dinesen, Hansen, Lehmberg, Svendsen and Fjeldså, 1994, Ibis, 136, p.. Type, by original designation, Xenoperdix udzungwensis Dinesen, Hansen, Lehmberg, Svendsen and Fjeldså, 1994." (JAJ 2020).
