The Key to Scientific Names

Edited by James A. Jobling
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AECHMOPHORUS

(Podicipedidae; Ϯ Western Grebe A. occidentalis) Gr. αιχμοφορος aikhmophoros  spearman  < αιχμη aikhmē  spear; φερω pherō  to carry;  "Gr. αιχμη, a spear, and φορος, bearing; in allusion to the long, slender, sharp bill" (Coues 1882) (pace Gotch 1981: “reference to the tarsal bones of the foot which are narrow and shaped like a blade”); "Genus I. ÆCHMOPHORUS Coues.  N.G.   Gen. Char. Bill very long, exceeding the head, straight or very slightly recurved, slender, attenuated towards the tip, which is very acute. Culmen straight or slightly concave. Commissure about straight. Gonys convex throughout its whole length, the angle scarcely appreciable. Nasal groove long, shallow, and narrow.  Bare loral space very narrow. Wings rather long, pointed, the outer primaries much attenuated.  Legs very long.  Tarsus as long as the middle toe and claw, exceeding the bill, excessively compressed. Outer lateral toe much longer than the middle. Lobes united at base for a very short distance. Size large; body slender; neck very long.  Head with moderate crests, but without decided ruffs?   Type. Podiceps  occidentalis, Lawr." (Coues 1862); "Aechmophorus Coues, 1862, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 14: 229.  Type, by original designation, Podiceps occidentalis Lawrence." (AOU Checklist, 7th ed., 1998, p. 8).
Var. Aichmophorus.


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