The Key to Scientific Names
- Antisyma
(Alcedinidae; syn. Todiramphus Ϯ Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher T. australasia) Gr. αντι anti opposite, corresponding; genus Syma Lesson, 1827, kingfisher; "A most interesting series is the one represented in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, under the names cinnamominus, subsp. rufigularis, subsp. mediocris, species reichenbachii and australasiæ. Judging from colour these are obviously closely related to Syma, differing in lacking the serrated edges to the mandibles. ... Alcedo australasia Vieillot is a smaller bird with the tail little graduated: a long compressed bill and the wing-tip composed of four primaries much longer than the secondaries: the first primary is longer than the fourth, the second and third a little longer and subequal. Halcyon cinnamomina Swainson is a larger bird with similar tail, but bill broader, more depressed like that of Todiramphus: the secondaries are long and little exceeded by the primaries, the tip consisting of six or seven primaries, the first about equal to the seventh, the second equal to the fifth, and the third and fourth subequal, but little longer. There is thus as much difference in structure between these two as between these and Syma. The logical sequence is the recognition of each generically, and I therefore propose ANTISYMA, with Alcedo australasia Vieillot as type, and HYPOSYMA, with Halcyon cinnamomina Swainson as type." (Mathews 1918); "Antisyma Mathews, Bds. Austr., 7, 1918, p. 154. Type, by original designation, Alcedo australasia Vieillot." (Peters, 1945, V, p. 193).
- Hyposyma
(Alcedinidae; syn. Todiramphus † Micronesian Kingfisher T. cinnamominus) Gr. ὑπο hupo somewhat like, related to; genus Syma Lesson, 1827, kingfisher; "Halcyon cinnamomina Swainson is a larger bird with similar tail, but bill broader, more depressed like that of Todiramphus: the secondaries are long and little exceeded by the primaries, the tip consisting of six or seven primaries, the first about equal to the seventh, the second equal to the fifth, and the third and fourth subequal, but little longer. There is thus as much difference in structure between these two as between these and Syma. The logical sequence is the recognition of each generically, and I therefore propose ... HYPOSYMA, with Halcyon cinnamomina Swainson as type." (Mathews 1918) (see Antisyma); "Hyposyma Mathews, Bds. Austr., 7, 1918, p. 154. Type, by original designation, Halcyon cinnamomina Swainson." (Peters, 1945, V, p. 193).
- syma
Genus Syma Lesson, 1827, kingfisher (used as a replacement name for torotoro) (syn. Syma torotoro).
- SYMA
(Alcedinidae; † Yellow-billed Kingfisher S. torotoro) Gr. myth. Syma, a sea nymph; "Ce genre, voisin de l'Alcedo, doit prendre place après celui nommé Dacelo par Leach. Genre SYMÉ (1) (Syma) Lesson. ... Cet oiseau habite le bord de la mer, le long des palétuviers. ... (1) Nom mythologique d'une nymphe de la mer" (Lesson 1827); "Syma Lesson, Bull. Sci. Nat. Ferussac, vol. xi. p. 443, 1827 (July ?). Type (by monotypy): Syma torotoro Lesson." (Mathews, 1927, Syst. Av. Austral., I, p. 370).
Var. Lyma.
