The Key to Scientific Names

Search for scientific name definitions

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alle

“Allē, the Lapp name of the Long-tailed Duck” (BOU 1915); “Actually alle is a widespread and well-known dialectal name for the Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis. The name is onomatopoeic and, like the first syllable in alfågel (the modern Swedish name), alludes to the beautiful call of the male which is usually transcribed as ‘a-AU-li’ or something similar. Linnaeus, as far as I know, never visited the Baltic coast during the winter or early spring and probably had only heard of the alle at second hand. Presumably he thought that this light-coloured seabird which only occurred in winter was the same as the Little Auk which he ...had only read about. Linnaeus did know of the Long-tailed Duck, but managed to partially confuse it with the Pintail” (Tommy Tyrberg in litt.); "a local [Swedish] dialectal name from ...Öland ...used for the ...Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle" (Björn Bergenholtz in litt.); "63. ALCA.  ...  Alle.  6. A. rostro lævi conico, abdomine fasciaque alarum alba, pedibus nigris.  Columba grœnlandica. Alb. av. l. p. 81. t. 85. Edw. av. 91. t. 91.  Mergus melanoleucus, rostro acuto brevi. Will. orn. 261. t. 59. Raj. av. 125. n. 5.  Habitat in Europæ, Americæ arcticæ oceano.  Præcedentis feminam esse statuit Albinus, negant Edwardus & nostrates." (Linnaeus 1758) (Alle).

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ALLE

(Alcidae; † Little Auk / Dovekie A. alle) Specific name Alca alle Linnaeus, 1758; "ALLE nigricans.  Schwärzliche Alle.  Alca Alle. Bechst. Orn. Tasch. 2 Th. S. 389.†.  Dieser Vogel unterscheidet sich sehr von der vorigen Gattung [Alca]; denn der Schnabel ist keinesweges so zusammengedrückt, sondern ziemlich dick, ungefurcht, mittelmäßig lang und fast ganz konisch. Er ist selten bey uns. Das Exemplar ist aus der Sammlung des Hn. Dr. Detharding." (Link 1806); "Alle Link, 1806, Beschreibung der Naturalien-Sammlung der Universität zu Rostock, I, p. 46.  Type, by tautonymy, Alle nigricans Link, 1806 = Alca alle Linnaeus, 1758.  Link doubtless intended to avoid the abhorrent tautonym Alle alle and gave the Little Auk a new specific name." (JAJ 2022).
Synon. Arctica, Cephus, Mergulus, Plautus.

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alleghanii

Alleghanies / Allegheny Mts., part of Appalachian Mts., eastern USA.

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allenbyi

Field Marshall Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby 1^st Viscount Allenby of Megiddo (1861-1936) British Army cavalry officer, Commander of Egyptian Expeditionary Force 1917-1918, High Commissioner for Egypt 1919-1925 (syn. Charadrius pecuarius).

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alleni

● Dr Joel Asaph Allen (1838-1921) US ornithologist, founding President of AOU 1883, Curator of AMNH 1885-1921 (syn. Ardenna pacifica, subsp. Buteo lineatus, subsp. Chrysuronia oenone, subsp. Coereba flaveola, subsp. Colaptes rubiginosus, subsp. Lagopus lagopus, syn. Phylloscartes ophthalmicus, subsp. Pipilo erythrophthalmus, syn. Rhynchotus rufescens, subsp. Spinus magellanicus, syn. Strix nebulosa, syn. Strix varia, subsp. Vireo crassirostris).
● Dr Elsa Guerdrum Allen (1888-?1976) US ornithologist, bibliographer (subsp. Arremon brunneinucha).
● Dr Glover Morrill Allen (1879-1942) US zoologist, Librarian of Boston Society of Natural History 1901-1927, Curator of Mammals at MCZ Harvard 1927-1938, traveller, collector (syn. Cisticola cinereolus schillingsi, subsp. Oriolus nigripennis, syn. Ploceus bojeri, syn. Turnix lepurana).
● Lt.-Commander Alfred Reginald Allen, Jr. (1905-1988) US Army, musician, Gen.-Manager Philadelphia Orchestra, Assistant Gen.-Manager Metropolitan Opera, New York, Curator of Gilbert & Sullivan Collection, Pierpoint Morgan Library, collector in South Africa (syn. Eupodotis rueppellii).
● Prof. Arthur Augustus Allen (1885-1964) US ornithologist, collector in Panama and Colombia 1911-1912, Professor of Ornithology Cornell Univ. 1912-1953 (Grallaria, syn. Oxyura jamaicensis).
● Rear-Adm. William Allen (1793-1864) Royal Navy, who took part in the Niger Expeditions 1832, 1841-1842 (Porphyrio).
● Charles Andrew Allen (1841-1930) US collector, taxidermist, woodsman (syn. Selasphorus sasin).

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ALLENIA

(Mimidae; Ϯ Scaly-breasted Thrasher A. fusca) Dr Joel Asaph Allen (1838-1921) US ornithologist, Curator of AMNH 1885-1921; "It is evident that the species in question should be separated generically from Cichlherminia, as Margarops cannot be used, the type being given as fuscatus. I therefore propose the name Allenia, in compliment to Dr. J. A. Allen of New York, for the new genus.   Allenia montana (LAFR.) Turdus montanus LAFR. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 107." (Cory 1891); "Allenia Cory, 1891, Auk, 8, p. 42. Type, by original designation, Turdus montanus Lafresnaye = Muscicapa fusca P. L. S. Müller." (Davis & Miller in Peters, 1960, IX, p. 457).

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alleonis

Jean Gérard Amédée Comte Alléon (1838-1904) French ornithologist, entomologist, collector in the Balkans and Turkey (Laurent Raty in litt.) (syn. Emberiza pallasi).

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arthuralleni

Prof. Arthur Augustus Allen (1885-1964) US ornithologist, collector in Panama and Colombia 1911-1912, Professor of Ornithology Cornell Univ. 1912-1953 (subsp. Agelaius phoeniceus).

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Calleas

(Callaeidae; syn. Callaeas † South Island Kokako C. cinereus) Gr. καλλαια kallaia cock’s wattles; "2. Sous-famille. STURNIDIA. Les Sturniens. Bec allongé, non comprimé.  20. Glaucopis L.  21. Buphaga L.  22. Oriolus L.  23. Sturnus L. Quiscalis R.  24. Calleas R.  25. Icterus Daud.  26. Cacicus Daud.  27. Xanthornus R.  28. Cinclus R." (Rafinesque, 1815, Analyse de la Nature, p. 68).

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Callena (See: Callene)
Callene

(Muscicapidae; syn. Cinclidium † Blue-fronted Robin C. frontale) L. callainus  turquoise-coloured  < callaïs  turquoise  < Gr. καλλαις kallais  turquoise; "Sylvania, nobis.  General characters of Callene (formerly Cinclidium, nobis, XI, 181*)   ...   Callene (olim Cinclidium) frontalis, nobis, figured in XII, 1010. This form differs from the next [Brachypteryx] in its larger and stronger bill, more developed tail, and the somewhat scale-like character of its plumage; but in other respects it is hardly separable.   ...   * The name Cinclidium was pre-applied in Botany to a genus of mosses." (Blyth 1847); "Callene Blyth, 1847, Journal Asiatic Soc. Bengal, XVI (I), p. 136.  New name for Cinclidium Blyth, 1842, considered preoccupied in Botany." (JAJ 2021).  In biological nomenclature the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (formerly the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature) are two completely separate disciplines, and a name created in one is not subject to the rules, articles, recommendations, declarations and opinions of the other.   
Var. Callena.

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callensis

L. Cale or Portus Cale an ancient settlement and port at the mouth of the Douro River, Portugal.

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callewaerti

Revd. Fr. Richard Callewaert (1866-1943) Belgian missionary to the Congo, naturalist, collector (syn. Numida meleagris galeatus, syn. Tchagra senegalus armenus).

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Cephallepis (See: Cephalolepis)
Cephalolepis

(Trochilidae; syn. Stephanoxis Ϯ Green-crowned Plovercrest S. lalandi) "Gen. CEPHALOLEPIS **) Lodd. 1831. —  Cephallepis (!) Lodd. 1831.  Smaragditis Rchb. 1849 (nec Boie 1831).  Cephalepis (!) Bp, 1849.  Orthorhynchus Burm. 1856 (nec Cuv. 1799-1800).   137. 1. C. Delalandi Rchb.   ...   *) Auch von dieser ausgezeichneten Gattung kennt man nur noch eine sehr seltene Art: C. Loddigesi Bp." (Cabanis & Heine 1860); "Cephalolepis Cabanis and Heine, Mus. Hein., Th. 3, 1860, p. 61. Emendation of Cephallepis Loddiges, not Cephalolepis Dumeril and Bibron 1844, nor of Agassiz, 1846." (Peters, 1945, V, p. 30).
Var. Cephalepis, Cephallepis, Cephaloepis.

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Cephallepis

(Trochilidae; syn. Stephanoxis Ϯ Green-crowned Plovercrest S. lalandi) Gr. κεφαλη kephalē  head; λεπις lepis, λεπιδος lepidos  scale, flake  < λεπω lepō  to peel; "Mr. Vigors exhibited several species of Humming-birds from the collection of Mr. John Gould, one of which, previously undescribed, had been dedicated to Mr. George Loddiges, F.L.S., &c. It approaches most nearly to Trochilus Lalandei, Vieill., but may be distinguished from that bird (in which the crest is brilliantly green and the throat and breast rich blue,) by the following characters: TROCHILUS LODDIGESII, Gould.   ...   Mr. Loddiges stated that both species belonged to a genus which he had distinguished among the Trochilidæ by the name of Cephallepis; and promised to bring before the Committee, at an early meeting, the results of his researches on the Trochilidæ generally." (Loddiges 1831); "Cephallepis Loddiges, Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc. London, pt. 1, 1830-31 (1831), p. 12. Type, by subsequent designation, Trochilus lalandi Vieillot. Not Cephalepis Rafinesque, 1810. (G. R. Gray, Cat. Gen. Subgen. Bds., 1855, p. 23.)" (Peters, 1945, V, p. 30).
Var. Cephalolepsis, Cephalepis.

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challengeri

HMS Challenger, RN vessel on world circumnavigation, oceanographic and scientific expedition 1872-1876 (‡subsp. Eos histrio).

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fallens

L. fallens, fallentis  deceiving, disappointing  < fallere  to deceive.

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gallericulatus (See: galericulata / galericulatus)
galericulata / galericulatus

Late Med. L. galericulatus  hooded  < L. galericulum  peruke, wig  < dim. galerum  cap, bonnet  < galea  helmet.
● "61  ANAS.  ...  galericulata.  36. A. crista dependente, dorsoque postico utrinque penna recurvata compressa elevata.  Querquedula sinensis elegans. Edw. av. 102, t. 102.  Kinmodsuis. Kæmph. jap. 129. t. 10.  Habitat in China.  Crista viridis rubraque. Rostrum & Pedes rubri. Dorsum fuscum maculis cæruleis. Pennæ dorsi erectæ rufæ obtusæ. Remex intimus, clausis alis, altero margine erigitur supra dorsum, rufus, antrorsum falcatus." (Linnaeus 1758) (Aix).
● ex Faucon Huppé of Levaillant 1798, pl. 28; both Kaup 1847, and Sundevall 1857, identify this bird as a poor representation of Falco peregrinus minor (Falco peregrinus artefact).
● ex Geai Noir à Collier Blanc of Levaillant 1801 (Platylophus).

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gloveralleni

Glover Morrill Allen (1879-1942) US zoologist, collector (‡Titanohierax).

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jalle (See: jalla)
jalla

Javanese names Jallak or Jallak-uring for the Asian Pied Starling (subsp. Gracupica contra).

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lasallei

"Hemos nombrado esta subespecie lasallei en honor del Santo Fundador de la Institución Lasaliana, como un sencillo homenaje en el tricentenario de su nacimiento" (Aveledo & Gines 1952) (OD per Martin Schneider); St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719) French priest, educational reformer, founder of the Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes or Brothers of the Christian Schools 1679, patron saint of teachers (subsp. Formicarius rufipectus).

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legalleni

Maurice Joseph Le Gallen (1873-1956) French colonial administrator,  Resident Superior in Cambodia 1914, Resident Superior in Tonkin 1915-1916, Gov. of Cochinchina 1916-1921 (Cutia).

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malleator

L. malleator, malleatoris  hammerer  < obsolescent malleare  to hammer  < malleus hammer, mallet.

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mallee

Mallee Region, north-western Victoria, Australia < Austraboriginal name mallee for a type of eucalyptus scrub.

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Malleeavis

(Cinclosomatidae; syn. Cinclosoma † Chestnut Quail-thrush C. castanotum) Austraboriginal name mallee for a type of eucalyptus scrub; L. avis  bird; "Malleeavis Schodde & Mason, subgen. nov. (Chestnut Quail-thrush group): male frontal pattern with uniformly black throat and breast, and linear white malar stripe; female frontal pattern with uniformly grey throat and breast, and linear white malar stripe; dorsum grey-brown shaft-streaked black, with broad plain chestnut band in males; iris brown; feet black.  One species (castanotus Gould) in south-central Australia  ...   subgenus Malleeavis Schodde & Mason:  type species: Cinclosoma castanotus Gould.  Malleeavis is masculine, and refers to the habitat of this group." (Schodde & Mason 1999); "Malleeavis Schodde and Mason, 1999, Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines, p.   Type, by original designation, Cinclosoma castanotus Gould, 1840." (JAJ 2021).

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malleolus

L. malleolus small hammer or mallet < dim. malleus hammer, mallet.

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Pallene

(Apodidae; syn. Hirundapus † Brown-backed Needletail H. giganteus). Gr. Pallene, an Attic deme or township.  In ornithology Attic place-names and persons were commonly coined for genera and species of swallows and swifts; "III. Les PALLÈNES ¹ sont des martinets à tarses alongés et robustes, entièrement nus jusqu'au talon.  ...  1º Le géant   ...   2º Le vieillard   ...   3º Le blanc-col    ...   Cypselus giganteus, Van Hass., Temm., pl. 364.   ...   C. senex, Temm., pl. 397.   ...   Cypselus colaris [sic], Wied., it., t. I, p. 108; Temm., pl. 195; hirundo albicollis, Vieill., Gal., pl. 120.   ...   ¹  Pallène (nom mythologique)." (Lesson, 1837, Compl. de Buffon, VIII, p. 493 (vernacular name only)); "PALLENE Less. (1837).  Cypselus, Van Hass.   P. giganteus, (Van Hass.) Less., Pl. col. 364." (G. Gray 1841);  "Pallene "Less." G. Gray, 1841, List Genera Birds, 2nd ed., p. 11 (not of Megerle, 1823 (Lepidoptera)).  Type, by original designation, P. giganteus (Van Hass.) Less., i.e. Cypselus giganteus "V. Hass." Temminck, 1825." (JAJ 2021). 
Var. Pallenia, Pallenis.

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Pallenia

(Apodidae; syn. Hirundapus † Brown-backed Needletail H. giganteus) Gr. Pallene, an Attic deme or township (see Pallene); “3. Pallenia, Bp.   5. senex, Temm.   6. gigantea, v. Hass. (caudacuta, Blyth.)   7. fusca, Shaw. (australis, Steph.  macroptera, Sw.  caudacuta? Gould nec Lath.)  a. ciris. Pall.   8. nudipes, Hodgs. (leuconotus, Deless.  fusca, Blyth, nec Sh.)” (Bonaparte 1857); “Pallenia Bonaparte, 1857, Rivista Contemporanea. Torino, IX, fascicolo 40, p. 212.  Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1869, Hand-list of Genera and Species of Birds, I, p. 67), Cypselus gigantea van Hasselt, i.e. Temminck, 1825.  Although Bonaparte did not acknowledge the homonymy, Gray treated this as a new name for Pallene Lesson, 1837, not of Megerle, 1823 (Lepidoptera).” (JAJ 2023).   

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pallens

L. pallens, pallentis  pale-coloured, greenish, yellowish  < pallere  to be pale.

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Pallenura

(Motacillidae; syn. Motacilla † Grey Wagtail M. cinerea) Gr. παλλω pallō  to sway, to swing; ουρα oura  tail; "529. Pallenura, Bp. ex Pall. (Calobates, Kaup. - Motacilla, p. Gr.)  1. MOTACILLA FLAVA, Br. (sulphurea, Bechst. - boarula, Auct. nec L. - melanope, Pall. - Calobates sulphurea, Kaup.) Pl. enl. 28. 1. - Edw. B. t. 259. - Gould, Eur. t. 147. ex Europa, Asia, et Afric. sept.    *2. Pallenura javensis, Bp. (Motacilla boarula ex Java, Temm.) Mus. Bp. Romae. ex Malaiasia, Ocean." (Bonaparte 1850) ("Pallenura" of Pallas is untenable, being a vernacular or group-name only); "Pallenura Bonaparte, 1850, Conspectus Generum Avium, I, p. 250.  Alternative name for Calobates Kaup, 1829." (JAJ 2021).

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pallescens

L. pallescens, pallescentis  pale-coloured, yellowish  < pallescere  to turn pale  <  pallere  to be pale.

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Pallestre (See: Palestre)
Palestre

(Hemiprocnidae; syn. Hemiprocne † Grey-rumped Treeswift H. longipennis) Palaeste, a seaport of Epirus, supposedly the entrance to Hades; "Les PALESTRES ⁴ ont les tarses très courts et très grêles, mais en partie nus.  Leurs formes sont très alongées, et les ailes surtout ont des proportions remarquables.  Elles atteignent ou dépassent la queue qui est profondément fourchue   ...   1º La klecko ⁵ des Javanais, ou la martinet longipennes de M. Temminck   ...   ⁴ Palestre, N. (nom mythologique).   ⁵ Hirundo klecko, Horsf., cat., Trans. XIII." (Lesson 1837); "Palestre Lesson, 1837, Complément des Œuvres de Buffon, VIII, p. 490.  Type, by monotypy, Hirundo klecko, i.e. Hirundo klecho Horsfield, 1821 = Hirundo longipennis Rafinesque, 1802." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Palaestra, Pallestre.

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palleuca

Gr. παλλευκος palleukos all-white.

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parallelicolor

L. parallelus  parallel  < Gr. παραλληλος parallēlos  side by side, parallel; color, coloris  colour.

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parallelus

L. parallelus parallel < Gr. παραλληλος parallēlos side by side, parallel.

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rostripallens

L. rostrum  beak  pallens, pallentis  pale  < pallere  to be pale.

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sallaei / sallei

Auguste Sallé (1820-1896) French entomologist, collector in tropical America 1846-1856 (syn. Amazona ventralis, subsp. Crypturellus cinnamomeus, Cyrtonyx, syn. Florisuga mellivora, Granatellus, subsp. Trogon violaceus (?syn. Trogon violaceus caligatus)).

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senegala / senegalensis / senegalla / senegallensis / senegalli / senegallus

Senegal  < perhaps Wolof sunu gaal, our canoe, from a misunderstanding between local peoples and early Portuguese explorers on the Senegal River. In early ornithology the toponym sometimes included much of tropical West Africa.
● ex “Petit Héron roux du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 315, “Petit Butor du Sénégal” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Senegal Bittern” of Latham 1785 (syn. Ardeola ralloides).
● ex “Gobe-mouche à poitrine rousse du Sénégal” (= ♀) and “Gobe-mouche à poitrine noire du Sénégal” (= ♂) of Brisson 1760 (Batis).
● ex “Oedicnème du Sénégal” of Temminck 1820 (Burhinus).
● ex “Hirondelle à ventre roux du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 310 (Cecropis).
● ex “Coucou du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760 (Centropus).
● ex “Grimpereau violet du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760 (Chalcomitra).
● ex “Swallow-tail’d Indian Roller” of Edwards 1758-1764, “Rollier du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 326, and “Senegal Roller” of Latham 1781 (syn. Coracias abyssinicus).
● ex “Figuier du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 582, fig. 1 (?syn. Eremomela pusilla).
● ex “Grand Martin Pescheur du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760 (Halcyon).
● ex “Sénégali rouge” of Brisson 1760 (Lagonosticta).
● ex “Perdrix du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 137 (syn. Pternistis bicalcaratus).
● ex “Pie du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Ptilostomus afer).
● ex “Turtur gutture maculato Senegalensis” of Brisson 1760 (Streptopelia).
● ex “Pie-grièche grise du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760, and “Pie-grièche rousse à tête noire du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 479, fig. 1 (Tchagra).
● ex “Tourterelle du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 160 (syn. Turtur afer (Schmitt & Crémière 2008, mistakenly identify this as Turtur chalcospilos)).
● ex “Colius senegalensis cristatus” of Brisson 1760, “Coliou huppé du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 282, fig. 2, and de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Senegal Coly” of Latham 1783 (syn. Urocolius macrourus).
● ex "Vanneau armé du Sénégal" of Brisson 1760 (Vanellus).
● ex “Merula senegalensis” of Brisson 1760, “Merle brun du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 563, fig. 2, and “Senegal Thrush” of Latham 1783 (unident.).
● Erroneous TL. Senegal (= Bengal); ex “Spotted Indian Woodpecker” of Edwards 1743-1751 (syn. Dinopium benghalense).
● Erroneous TL. Senegal (= Gabon) (Dryoscopus).
● Erroneous TL. Senegal (= Algeria); ex “Gélinote du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 130 (Pterocles).
● Erroneous TL. Senegal (= Cayenne); ex “Petit pic du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 345, fig. 2, “Petit pic rayé du Sénégal” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Gold-backed Woodpecker" of Latham 1782 (syn. Veniliornis passerinus).

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Tallegallus (See: TALEGALLA)
TALEGALLA

(Megapodiidae; † Red-billed Brush-turkey T. cuvieri) French name Talève  swamphen  < Malagasy Talavana; L. gallus  cock; “Genre. TALÉGALLE, talegalla, Less.  ... Une seule espèce découverte par nous dans les forêts de la Nouvelle-Guinée sert de type à ce genre.  C’est un oiseau entièrement noir, de taille d’une petite poule commune, et qui retrace quelques unes des formes des talèves ou porphyrions.  C’est pour rappeler ces analogies que nous avons forgé le mot hybride talégalle.  Cette espèce, par sa rareté, comme parce qu'elle fait le type d'un genre, a reçu le nom de TALÈGALLE DE CUVIER, talegalla Cuvieri, Less., Zool. de la Coq., pl. xxxviii” (Lesson 1828); "Talegalla Lesson, Manuel d'Orn. vol. ii. p. 185, June 1828.  Type (by original designation): Talegalla cuvieri Lesson." (Mathews, 1927, Syst. Av. Austral., I, Corrections (1928), p. vi).
Var. Talagalla, Talegallus, Tallegallus.

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vallecitoensis

Vallecito Creek, San Diego County, California, USA.

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viridipallens

Mod. L. viridipallens  pale-green  < L. viridis  green  < virere  to be green; pallens, pallentis  pale  < pallere  to be pale.

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walleri

● Gerald Waller (fl. 1880) English naturalist, collector in East Africa (Onychognathus).
● Benjamin I. Waller (fl. 1962) US amateur geologist, diver (‡Titanis).
● Eli Waller (d. 1881) Australian taxidermist, collector (syn. Tyto longimembris).

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