Key to Scientific Names

Legend Overview

UPPERCASE: current genus Uppercase first letter: generic synonym ● and ● See: generic homonyms lowercase: species and subspecies ●: early names, variants, misspellings ‡: extinct †: type species Gr.: ancient Greek L.: Latin <: derived from syn: synonym of /: separates historical and modern geographic names ex: based on TL: type locality OD: original diagnosis (genus) or original description (species)

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The Key to Scientific Names

Edited by James A. Jobling

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Acanthus (See: ACANTHIS) ACANTHIS: (Fringillidae; Ϯ Redpoll A. flammea) L. acanthis small bird, probably a finch < Gr. ακανθις akanthis small unidentified bird mentioned by Aristotle and other authors, probably the Common Linnet. In ornithology usually identified with some sort of finch (cf. myth. Acanthis, daughter of Autonous, was metamorphosed into a type of finch. Her brother, Acanthus, was changed into an unidentified bird); "XIX. Gattung, Zeisig, Acanthis. Schnabel kegelförmig, von benden Seiten zusammengedrückt und scharf zugespitzt. Die Vögel dieser Gattung (die in Deutschland einheimischen wenigstens) nähren sich bloß von Sämerenen, und füttern ihre Jungen aus dem Kropfe. 105) Acanthis Carduelis, der Distelzeisig, Distelfink, Stieglitz ... 106) Acanthis Spinus, der eigentliche Zeisig, Erlenzeisig, das Zeischen ... 107) Acanthis Cannabina, der Hänfling ... 108) Acanthis Linaria, der Flachszeisig, Flachsfink, das Zischerlein ... 109) Acanthis Citrinella, der Zitronenzeisig ... 110) Acanthis flavirostris, der gelbschnäbeliche Zeisig ... 111) Acanthis flammea, der rothhaubige Zeisig" (Borkhausen 1797); "Acanthis Borkhausen, 1797, Deutsche Fauna, I, p. 248. Type, by subsequent designation (Stejneger, 1884, Auk, I, p. 145), Fringilla linaria Linnaeus, 1758 = Fringilla flammea Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2022). Recent genetic work has shown that the various Holarctic redpolls formerly treated as distinct species (i.e. Mealy Redpoll A. flammea, Lesser Redpoll A. cabaret, Arctic Redpoll A. hornemanni) are too closely related to be so considered, representing but arbitrary divisions of a continuum of morphological characters. Doubtless, in the fullness of time, further research will reveal that such divisions are evidence of on-going speciation and that they should be separated again - plus ça change ... .
Var. Acanthus.
Synon. Aegiothus, Cannabis, Linacanthis, Linaria, Rubricapilla.
● (Fringillidae; syn. Carduelis † European Goldfinch C. carduelis) “ACANTHIS K. & Bl. . . . 211. carduelis L. — Eu. (?) orientalis Eversm. — Asia, Rev. Zool. 1857, p. 135.”; “Acanthis “K. & Bl.” Blasius, 1862, List Birds Europe, p. 14. Type, by monotypy, Fringilla carduelis Linnaeus, 1758.” (JAJ 2023).
● (Fringillidae; syn. Linaria Ϯ Twite L. flavirostris) "Arktischer Fink (F. flavirostris, Linn.) ... Mit einem dünnern, an den Seiten etwas zusammengedrückten, und scharf und lang zugespitzten Schnabel. Die Nahrung besteht aus bloßen öhligen Sämereyen. (Acanthis)" (Bechstein 1802); "Acanthis J. M. Bechstein, Ornith. Taschenbuch Deutschland, Erster Theil, 1802, 125. Type by monotypy: Fringilla flavirostris Linn." (Richmond Index).
● ("syn. Spinus") see Acanthilis
Aenanthus (See: OENANTHE) OENANTHE: (Muscicapidae; † Northern Wheatear O. oenanthe) Specific name Motacilla oenanthe Linnaeus, 1758; "MOTTEUX, Œnanthe. Motacilla, Linn. Silvia et Turdus, Lath. Bec plus haut que large à la base, droit, très-fendu; mandibule supérieure un peu obtuse, courbée et échancrée à la pointe; l'inférieure plus courte, droite, pointue. — Ailes à penne batarde; la deuxième remige la plus longue. Esp. Motteux, Buff. — Turdus leucurus, Lath." (Vieillot 1816); "Oenanthe Vieillot, 1816, Analyse, p. 43. Type, by monotypy, "Motteux" Buffon = Turdus leucurus Gmelin." (Ripley in Peters, 1964, X, p. 121); "OENANTHE Vieillot, 1816 F — "Le Motteux" Buffon; type by tautonymy = Motacilla oenanthe Linnaeus, 1758" (Dickinson and Christidis (eds.), H. & M. Complete Checklist, 4th ed., 2014, 2 (Passerines), p. 610).
Var. Oeanthe, Ananthe, Aenante, Aenanthe, Aenanthus.
Synon. Campicola, Cercomela, Lucotoa, Penthodyta, Pentholaea, Philothamna, Saxicola, Sciocincla, Vitiflora.
Afranthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Short-tailed Pipit A. brachyurus) L. Afer, Afra African < Africa Africa; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "The second I would place in another new genus, AFRANTHUS, type A. brachyurus Sundevall, characterised by having the tail shorter than in any other Pipit, only about two-thirds of the length of the wing; colour rather darker above than Caffranthus, and the underparts slightly streaked on the chest." (A. Roberts 1922); "Afranthus A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 256. Type, by original designation, Anthus brachyurus Sundevall, 1851." (JAJ 2020) (see Caffranthus).
Anomalanthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Nicholson's Pipit A. nicholsoni) Gr. ανωμαλος anōmalos strange < negative prefix αν- an- ; ομαλος omalos even; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "A. rufulus raalteni ... In Anthus nicholsoni Sharpe the colour markings are practically the same, the main difference being that the outer tail feathers are not so clearly nor broadly white; but the primaries differ as follows: first four primaries subequal, the fifth a little shorter, but much longer than the sixth; the second to the fifth primaries are emarginate on the outer web; claws not as long as the hallux, much curved and slender. The difference between these two species is not very great when when one has the specimens in hand, but in the field they are easily distinguished by their call-notes, which seem to indicate that they are not so closely allied as their general characters would seem to show and that the emargination of the primaries is sufficiently important a character to justify separating them into two distinct genera. I propose therefore to place A. nicholsoni Sharpe in a new genus, ANOMALANTHUS." (A. Roberts 1922); "Anomalanthus A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 256 (not of Bell, 1884 (Echinoidea)). Type, by monotypy, Anthus nicholsoni Sharpe, 1884." (JAJ 2020) (see Meganthus).
anoxantha / anoxanthus: Gr. ανω anō above, upperparts; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
ANTHUS: (Motacillidae; † Meadow Pipit A. pratensis) L. anthus small bird that inhabited grasslands mentioned by Pliny, not further identified, but probably the Yellow Wagtail < Gr. ανθος anthos small, brightly coloured bird mentioned by Aristotle. In Gr. myth. Anthus, son of Antinous and Hippodamia, was killed by his father’s horses and metamorphosed into a bird which imitated the neighing of horses but fled at their sight; "47. Pieper. Anthus. Ich rechne zu dieser neuen Gattung vier Arten. ... Das was Frisch in der Naturgeschichte von No. III. von der Greuthlerche erzählt, gehört eigentlich zur Pieplerche (Alauda trivialis), die er Wiesenlerche nennt. Das aber, was er von der Wiesenlerche No. IV. sagt, paßt nur auf die Brachlerche (Alauda campestris). Das, was er von felner Pieplerche sagt, hat zwar seine Richtigkeit, allein die Ueberschrift ist falsch, und sollte eigentlich Wiesenlerche (Alauda pratensis) heißen *). ... *) Diese Vögel, nämlich die Brach- Piep- und Wiesenlerche haben zu vielen Irrthümern in den naturhistorischen Schriften Anlaß gegeben. Ich habe mich selbst irre führen lassen. Ich habe daher für dieselben, da sie zu auffallend von den Lerchen abweichen, eine besondere Gattung, die ich Anthus nenne, gebildet. ... 161. Die Brachlerche oder der Brachpieper. Alauda campestris. L. Taf. 15. Fig. 2. b. (Anthus campestris, mihi." (Bechstein 1805); "Anthus Bechstein, Gemein. Naturg. Deutschl. ii, pp. 247, 302, 1805. Type by subsequent designation of Mathews (Austral Av. Rec. ii, p. 123, 1918), Alauda campestris. ... This genus until recently has been quoted from Bechstein's third volume, p. 704, 1807, and the type designated by Gray in 1840 as A. spinoletta. Under the earlier citation of Anthus, here quoted, the Water-Pipit is not mentioned, so that it cannot under the Rules be designated as the type of the genus. The three species which are mentioned by Bechstein are A. campestris, A. trivialis, and A. pratensis. Sharpe, in Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. x, p. 534, 1885, designated A. trivialis, but did not quote the earlier reference to Bechstein. Mathews subsequently therefore (Austral Av. Rec. ii, p. 123, 1918) designated A. campestris, which is here accepted as the type." (W. Sclater, 1930, Syst. Av. Aethiop., II, 340); "Anthus Bechstein, 1805, Gemein. Nat. Deutschl., 2, p. 247, 302, 465. Type, by subsequent designation, Alauda pratensis Linnaeus (Selby, 1825, Illust. Brit. Orn., p. xxix)." (Vaurie in Peters, 1960, IX, p. 144).
Var. Arthur, Artthus.
Synon. Afranthus, Agrodoma, Agrodroma, Anomalanthana, Anomalanthus, Austranthus, Caffranthus, Cichlops, Cinaedium, Corydalla, Dendronanthus, Heterura, Leimoniptera, Meganthus, Megistina, Neocorys, Notiocorys, Oreocorys, Pediocorys, Petranthus, Pipastes, Rhabdochlamys, Seiren, Spipola, Xanthocorys.
Austranthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Australian Pipit A. australis) Portmanteau of specific name Anthus australis Vieillot, 1818; "AUSTRANTHUS. gen. nov. Type, Anthus australis, Vieillot." (Mathews 1915); "Austranthus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec. vol. ii. p. 123, Jan. 28th, 1913 [sic = 1915]. Type (by original designation): Anthus australis Vieillot" (Mathews, 1930, Syst. Av. Austral., II, p. 818).
Budytanthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Dendronanthus † Forest Wagtail D. indicus) Portmanteau of genera Budytes Cuvier, 1816, wagtail, and Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "122. Budytanthus torquatus. C'est ainsi que j'appelle provisoirement un oiseau envoyé au Muséum sous le no. 978, et qui me paraît tenir des budytes et des anthus. Il niche dans les vallées de nos montagnes occidentales ³. ... ³Motacilla indica (Gmel.)" (David 1867); "Budytanthus David, 1867, Nouv. Archives Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, III (4), p. 33. Type, by monotypy, Budytanthus torquatus David, 1867 = Motacilla indica Gmelin, 1789." (JAJ 2020).
Caffranthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Bush Pipit A. caffer) Portmanteau of specific name Anthus caffer Sundevall, 1851; "Anthus ... Not far removed from this genus are two others which are resident in Africa. The first of these I would place in a new genus named CAFFRANTHUS, type Anthus caffer Sundevall, characterised by being smaller than Spipola, the outermost primary shorter than the second and third, the difference between the longest and shortest primaries about equal to the length of the tarsus; claws weak, short and slightly curved, the hind claw less than the length of the hallux; tail about three-fourths the length of the wing; colour generally plain, irregularly streaked above and streaked below." (A. Roberts 1922); "Caffranthus A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 256. Type, by original designation, Anthus caffer Sundevall, 1851." (JAJ 2020) (see Afranthus).
CALAMANTHUS: (Acanthizidae; Ϯ Striated Fieldwren C. fuliginosus) Gr. καλαμαια kalamaia grasshopper; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "It carries its tail erect, like the Maluri, but differs from the members of that group in moving that organ in a lateral direction whenever it perches, and at the termination of a succession of hops on the ground, over which it passes with great celerity, depending at all times for safety more on this power than on that of flight" (Gould 1865); "Genus CALAMANTHUS. GEN. CHAR. Bill shorter than the head, dilated at the base, compressed laterally towards the tip; culmen sharp and advancing upon the forehead; nostrils lateral, large, oval, and covered by an operculum; rictus destitute of bristles; wings short, round, the fourth quill the longest, the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh equal; tail rather short and round; tarsi moderately long, defended anteriorly with indistinct scales; hind toe rather long, with a long claw; lateral toes uneven, the outer one the shortest. Type. Anthus fuliginosus, Vig. and Horsf." (Gould 1838); "Calamanthus Gould, 1838, Synop. Birds Australia, pt. 4, app., p. 4. New name for Praticola Swainson, 1837, preoccupied by Praticola Kaup, 1829." (Mayr in Peters 1986, XI, 427) (Praticola Kaup, 1829, is an incorrect subsequent spelling of Pratincola Koch, 1816 (see Pratincola)).
Var. Calantanthus, Calamoanthus.
Synon. Eremianthus, Praticola.
catharoxanthus: Gr. καθαρος katharos bright, pure, spotless; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
cryptantha / cryptanthus: Gr. κρυπτος kruptos hidden; ανθος anthos flower, blossom.
cryptoxanthus: Gr. κρυπτος kruptos hidden; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
CYNANTHUS: (Trochilidae; † Broad-billed Hummingbird C. latirostris) Gr. κυανος kuanos dark-blue; ανθος anthos blossom, flower (cf. "Cynanthus (!) Sws. ... Denn erstens hiesse das von κυων (Hund) und ανθος (Blume) gebildete Wort wörtlich übersetzt eine "Hundsblume" und wäre also wohl füglicher der Botanik zu überweisen" (Heine 1863));"G. CYNANTHUS. Swains. in Zool. Journ. No. 10. 96. Cynanthus latirostris. Green, beneath bluish; chin and throat sapphire blue ... 97. Cynanthus bifurcatus. ... 98. Cynanthus minimus. ... 99. Cynanthus Lucifer." (Swainson 1827 (June)); "Cynanthus Swainson, Philos. Mag. (n.s.), 1, June, 1827, p. 441. (Not Cynanthus Swainson, Zool. Journ., 3, Aug.-Nov., 1827, p. 357.)   Type, by subsequent designation, Cynanthus latirostris Swainson. (Stone, Auk, 24, 1907, p. 192)." (Peters, 1945, V, p. 42).
Var. Cyananthus.
Synon. Circe, Cyanolampis, Iache, Phaeoptila.
● (Trochilidae; syn. Aglaiocercus † Long-tailed Sylph A. kingi) "CYNANTHUS, Sw. Bill cylindrical, more or less curved. Tail forked.   C. forficatus. Auct." (Swainson 1837, Classif. Birds, II, 330); "This genus was first established by Swainson in 1827, Zool. Journ., p. 357, and contained species belonging to various genera, all of which he called types. In 1837 (l.c.), he ejected the species from CYNANTHUS, which he had previously placed in it, and inserted T. forficatus, Linn., only, which now stands as the type of the genus." (Elliot 1879); "Cynanthus Swainson, 1837, Nat. Hist. Classification Birds, II, p. 330 (not of Swainson, 1827, nor of Lesson, 1829). Type, by monotypy, Cynanthus forficatus auct. = Trochilus forficatus Linnaeus, 1766 (not Linnaeus, 1758) = Ornismya kingi Lesson, 1832." (JAJ 2020).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Archilochus † Ruby-throated Hummingbird A. colubris) "CYNANTHUS. Rostrum rectum, vel sub-arcuatum. Cauda longissima, forficata.   Types. 1. T. colubris, L.   2. macrourus, L.   3. platurus, Sh.   4. bifurcatus, Sw. ined.   5. O. M. à queue singulaire. Temm., Pl. col. 18. f. 2.   Bill straight or very slightly curved. Tail very long, forked." (Swainson 1827 (Nov.)); "Cynanthus. Rostro recto vel subarquato, caude longissime forficata. Arten: T. colubris L., T. macrourus, bifurcus Swains. O. M. à queue singulière. col. 182." (Boie 1831, Isis von Oken, col. 547); "Cynanthus Swainson, 1827 (Nov.), Zool. Journal, III, p. 357 (not of Swainson, 1827 (June)). Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1855, Cat. Genera Subgenera Birds Brit. Mus., p. 23), Trochilus colubris Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2020).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Lesbia † Black-tailed Trainbearer L. victoriae) "187. Cynanthus Sw. p. (Lesbia, Less. - Mellisuga, p. Boie, Gr.) America m. 6.   1. TROCHILUS forficatus, L.   ...   2. Cynanthus bifurcatus, Sw.   ...   3. TROCHILUS mocoa, Bourcier.   ...   4. TROCHILUS gouldi, Loddiges 1832 nec Less.   ...   5. TROCHILUS gracilis, Gould   ...   6. TROCHILUS victoriae, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1846" (Bonaparte 1850); "35. CYNANTHUS, Sw. — 135. bifurcatus, Sw. 1827. — 136. amaryllis, Bourc. 1848. — 137. victoria, B. et M. 1846. — 138. eucharis, Bourc. 1848. — 139. gouldi, Loddig. 1832." (Bonaparte, 1854, Rev. Mag. Zool., sér. 2, VI, p. 252); "Cynanthus Bonaparte, 1850, Conspectus Generum Avium, I (1), p. 81 (not of Swainson, 1827, nor of Lesson, 1829, nor of Swainson, 1837, nor of von Tschudi, 1844). Type, by subsequent designation (Elliot, 1879, Smithsonian Contrib. Knowledge, 317, Classif. Synop. Trochilidae, p. 145), Trochilus amaryllis Bourcier, 1848 = Trochilus victoriae Bourcier and Mulsant, 1846." (JAJ 2020).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Patagona † Giant Hummingbird P. gigas) "LES CYNANTHES.   Cynanthus, Swainson. ... ESPÈCE 1re. OISEAU-MOUCHE PATAGON. Ornismya tristis, N. Pl. III (mâle). ... Patrie: Le Chili. Oiseau-mouche géant, trochilus gigas, Vieillot, Gal. du Muséum, pl. 180" (Lesson 1829) (eleven other 'espèces' are listed); "Cynanthus Lesson, 1829, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, p. xi (not of Swainson, 1827). Type, by subsequent designation (Elliot, 1879, Smithsonian Contrib. Knowledge, 317, p. 67), Trochilus gigas Vieillot, 1824." (JAJ 2020).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Sappho † Red-tailed Comet S. sparganurus) "2. Subgen. Cynanthus Swains. 200. 3. Tr. chrysurus Cuv. Gal. Mus. Par. et Regn. Anim. I. p. 436. Tr. spargurus Shaw Gen. Zool. of Birds p. 291. 11. Ornismya Sapho Less. Man. Ornith. II. p. 83. Orthorhynchus chrysurus d'Orb. de Lafres. Syn. l. c. p. 26.3." (von Tschudi 1844); "Cynanthus von Tschudi, 1844, Archiv für Naturg., X, p. 296 (not of Swainson, 1827, nor of Lesson, 1829, nor of Swainson, 1837). Type, by subsequent designation (Elliot, 1879, Smithsonian Contrib. Knowledge, 317, Classif. Synop. Trochilidae, p. 153), T. sparganurus Shaw, 1812." (JAJ 2020).
DENDRONANTHUS: (Motacillidae; † Forest Wagtail D. indicus) Gr. δενδρον dendron tree; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "130. Dendronanthus (nobis) indicus; Motacilla indica, Gm. M. variegata, Vieillot, not of Latham. I have just obtained a beautiful specimen of this bird." (Blyth 1844); "Dendronanthus Blyth, 1844, Annals and Magazine of Natural History, XIII, p. 116. Type by monotypy, Motacilla indica Gmelin, 1789." (JAJ 2020).
Var. Dendranthus.
Synon. Budytanthus, Limonidromus, Nemoricola, Nemorivaga.
● (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Tree Pipit A. trivialis) "The Tree Pipits (to which, if it be thought necessary to separate them, the name Dendronanthus may be applied), are distinguished by shorter tarsi, a less elongated and more curved hind-claw, and a comparatively short and less slender bill than in many others: they resort to open woodlands, and perch often; and their gait and general manners are different from those of other Pipits (as may be well observed by keeping them in confinement). Their actions are more deliberate, and they have not the habitual rapid run of other Pipits and Wagtails; neither, in captivity, are they at all peckish and quarrelsomely disposed towards their companions ... 1. A. trivialis, (L.): A. arboreus, Bechstein. ... 2. A. Richardi, Vieillot." (Blyth 1847); "Dendronanthus Blyth, 1847, Journal Asiatic Soc. Bengal, XVI (I), p. 432 (not of Blyth, 1844). Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1855, Cat. Genera Subgenera Birds Brit. Mus., p. 40), Alauda trivialis Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2021).
Eremianthus: (Acanthizidae; syn. Calamanthus † Rufous Fieldwren C. campestris wayensis) Gr. ερημια erēmia desert, wilderness; genus Calamanthus Gould, 1838, fieldwren; "As to the value of structural differences this species shows more differences from Calamanthus than does Hylacola, and it is advisable to introduce a new sub-generic name, Eremianthus, selecting Calamanthus campestris wayensis Mathews as the type." (Mathews 1922); "Eremianthus Mathews, Birds Austr. vol. ix. p. 295, Feb. 15th, 1922. Type (by original designation): Calamanthus campestris wayensis Mathews." (Mathews, 1930, Syst. Av. Austral., II, p. 566).
erixanthus: Gr. ερι- eri- very, much; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
flavacanthus: L. flavus yellow; Gr. ακανθα akantha spine, thorn < ακη akē point.
holoxanthus: Gr. ὁλος holos complete, entire; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
Hylocanthus (See: Hypacanthis) Hypacanthis: (Fringillidae; syn. Chloris † Yellow-breasted Greenfinch C. spinoides ) Gr. ὑπο hupo somewhat, exceeding; ακανθις akanthis small bird, usually identified with the Linnet; "Gen. HYPACANTHIS nov. gen. *) Bastardzeisig. 811. 1. H. spinoides Nob. — Carduelis spinoides Vig. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831. p. 44. id. Gould. Cent. Him. Birds tab. 33. fig. 2. — Chrysomitris spinoides Blyth. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1844. pag. 956. ... *) Von ὑπο und ακανθις, ιδος, ἡ Distelfink. — Die Gruppe unterscheidet sich von Chrysomitris durch den stärkern, weniger zusammengedrückten Schnabel und verhältnissmässig stärker entwickelte Flügel. Als 2te Art scheint hierher zu gehören: H. Stanleyi. — Carduelis Stanleyi Audub. Syn. p. 118 no. 185." (Cabanis 1853); "Hypacanthis Cabanis, 1853, Museum Heineanum, I, p. 161. Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1855, Cat. Genera Subgenera Birds Brit. Mus., p. 77), Carduelis spinoides Vigors, 1831." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Hylocanthus, Hypocanthis.
Hyperanthus: (Ploceidae; syn. Euplectes † Southern Red Bishop E. orix) Gr. ὑπερ huper exceeding; ανθος anthos bloom, flower (cf. ὑπερανθεω huperantheō to bloom exceedingly); "Euplectus (Kirby, Pselaph.) bl. — Euplectes (Swains., Isis, 1832, Smith Illust., Vogel): Hyperanthus, N." (Gistel 1848); "Hyperanthus Gistel, 1848, Naturgesch. Thierreichs für höhere Schulen, p. IX. New name for Euplectes Swainson, 1829, considered preoccupied by Euplectus Kirby, i.e. Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera)." (JAJ 2021).
hypoxanthus: Gr. ὑπο hupo beneath; ξανθος xanthos yellow (cf. ὑποξανθος hupoxanthos yellowish, lightish-brown).
Hypoxanthus: (Picidae; syn. Piculus † Crimson-mantled Woodpecker P. rivolii) Gr. ὑπο hupo beneath; ξανθος xanthos yellow (cf. specific name Colaptes hypoxanthus Blyth, 1845 (= syn. Piculus rivolii)); "g. Colapteæ ... 40. HYPOXANTHUS, Bp. — 228. rivolii, Boissonn. (elegans, Fraser.)" (Bonaparte 1854); "Hypoxanthus Bonaparte, 1854, Conspectus Volucrum Zygodactylorum, p. 11. Type, by monotypy, Picus rivolii Boissonneau, 1840.” (JAJ 2022).
Linacanthus (See: Linacanthis) Linacanthis: (Fringillidae; syn. Acanthis † Redpoll A. flammea) Portmanteau of genera Linaria Bechstein, 1802, linnet, and Acanthis Borkhausen, 1797, redpoll; "8me GENRE. - SIZERIN. LINACANTHIS. (Chenu et O. Des Murs.) Par contraction de Linaria et Acanthis. ... Le nom de Linaria, disent MM. Schlegel et Bonaparte, employé déjà par Gessner pour désigner l'espèce commune de ce genre et la Linotte, ayant été de tout temps appliqué à un genre de plantes, MM. Keyserling et Blasius l'ont changé, en 1842, en celui d'Acanthis; mais ces auteurs y comprennent également le Tarin et le Chardonneret. Cette dernière raison, jointe à ce que ce nom d'Acanthis a été employé dès 1810 par Meyer pour désigner le Chardonneret, nous donne lieu de croire que le même nom serait, si on le maintenait appliqué au Sizerin, une source de confusion et d'erreur inévitable. Nous avons donc jugé convenable de le remplacer par un nom mixte, indiquant les rapports du Sizerin au Chardonneret, les deux noms Linaria et Acanthis dérivant au surplus du grec et paraissant acceptables liés l'un à l'autre. ... Ce genre, synonyme des genres Acanthys, Keyserling et Blasius, et Linota, Cabanis, ne se compose que de quatre [sic] espèces ... le Sizerin boréal (Linacanthis Linaria, Chenu et O. Des Murs), le Sizerin cabaret (Linacanthis rufescens, Vieillot ... le Sizerin de Holboll (Linacanthis Holbolli, Brehm" (des Murs in Chenu 1854); "Linacanthis Des Murs, in Chenu, Enc. Hist. Nat., Ois., 5, pp. 292, 303, 1854—new name for Acanthys [sic] "Keyserling and Blasius."" (Hellmayr, 1938, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. XI, p. 265).
Var. Linacanthus.
Meganthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Buffy Pipit A. vaalensis) Gr. μεγας megas, μεγαλη megalē great; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "The other species is A. leucophrys Vieillot, which is more readily differentiated on its consistently larger size, uniform back, absence of distinct streaks on the breast and the wing formula, which is as follows: two outermost primaries the longest (outermost sometimes rather shorter than second), the third and again the fourth proportionately shorter, the fifth still shorter (the difference more than the difference between the fourth and first) and the sixth considerably shorter; the fifth primary is only indistinctly emarginate, not nearly so distinctly as in Anomalanthus, and the hind claw is long and slender, but differs in the species. Members of this group have a distribution quite as extensive as that of Anomalanthus and I propose therefore to place them in another genus, MEGANTHUS, type Anthus vaalensis Shelley." (A. Roberts 1922); "Meganthus A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 257. Type, by original designation, Anthus vaalensis Shelley, 1900." (JAJ 2020) (see Anomalanthus).
melanoxantha / melanoxanthos / melanoxanthum / melanoxanthus: Gr. μελας melas, μελανος melanos black; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
Merulanthus: (Pittidae; syn. Hydrornis † Eared Pitta H. phayrei) Portmanteau of genera Merula Boddaert, 1783, thrush, and Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "I have many novelties to describe, received from my late host Col. Phayre, before I left Calcutta. ... another is a new form of Turdinus-like birds with straight claws - Merulanthus phayrii, nobis" (Blyth 1861); "Merulanthus Blyth, 1861, Ibis, III (12), p. 408 (nom nud.). Type, by monotypy, Merulanthus phayrii Blyth (nom. nud.) = Anthocincla phayrei Blyth, 1863." (JAJ 2021).
mesoxantha / mesoxanthus: Gr. μεσος mesos middle, intermediate; ξανθος xanthos yellow.
ochroxanthus: Gr. ωχροξανθος ōkhroxanthos pale-yellow.
Petranthus: (Motacillidae; syn. Anthus † Yellow-tufted Pipit A. crenatus) Gr. πετρα petra rock; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "Passing now to the typical African Pipits, there are three well-marked genera that are readily separated from the preceding. There is always a distinct emargination on the fifth primary and the graduation of the primaries is not marked by wide gaps between the tips, the wing being more rounded in shape. Of these, the species "Anthus" crenatus Finsch and Hartlaub is characterised by its uniform upper parts and indistinct stripes on the breast and even less distinct lines on the flanks; but the axillaries, the bend of the wing and the outer margins of the primaries are yellowish; the bill is uniform dark brown, differing in this respect from all Pipits; the first four primaries are practically of equal length and the fifth is only a little shorter, the difference between longest and shortest primaries much greater than the length of the culmen; the tail is about four-fifths the length of the wing; the hind claw is slender and curved, but shorter than the hallux. To this group, which contains only one species so far as I know, I propose the new generic name of PETRANTHUS, type Anthus crenatus F. and H." (A. Roberts 1922); "Petranthus A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 258. Type, by original designation, Anthus crenatus Finsch and Hartlaub, 1870." (JAJ 2020).
Philanthus: Gr. φιλος philos lover; ανθος anthos blossom, flower.
• (Meliphagidae; syn. Manorina † Noisy Miner M. melanocephala) "CLIII.^eGenre. PHILANTHE; Philanthus. Bec court, comprimé, convexe, pointu, entier, à bords un peu dilatés, arqués, à commissure ample, fendue, déjetée; narines en fente longitudinale, percées dans une membrane en partie recouverte par les plumes du front; ailes médiocres; queue alongée, étagée, arrondie, ample, en éventail; tarses courts, médiocres, scutellés. 1.º PHILÉDON A FRONT BLANC; Merops albifrons, Shaw. Des environs du Port-Jackson. 2.º MARTIN A QUEUE STRIÉE; Gracula striata, Cuv., Gal. de Paris. Du Bengale. (Macé.)" (Lesson 1831); "Philanthus Lesson, 1831, Traité Orn., p. 402. Type, by subsequent designation (Mathews, 1921, Austral Avian Rec., 4, p. 137), Merops albifrons Latham = Gracula melanocephala Latham. Not Philanthus Fabricius, 1791 (Coleoptera)." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 439).
• (Leiothrichidae; syn. Turdoides † Jungle Babbler T. striatus) “CLIII.^e Genre. PHILANTHE; Philanthus. … 1.º PHILÉDON A FRONT BLANC; Merops albifrons, Shaw. Des environs du Port-Jackson. 2.º MARTIN A QUEUE STRIÉE; Gracula striata, Cuv., Gal. de Paris. Du Bengale. (Macé.)" (Lesson 1831); “Philanthus Lesson, 1831, Traité d’Ornithologie, p. 402 (not of Fabricius (Coleoptera)). Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1841, List Genera Birds, 2nd ed., p. 37), “Gracula striata” Cuvier MS = Malacocircus striata Swainson, 1833 = Cossyphus striatus Dumont, 1823.” (JAJ 2022).
Phyllanthus: (Leiothrichidae; syn. Turdoides Ϯ Capuchin Babbler T. atripennis) Gr. φυλλον phullon leaf; genus Anthus Bechstein, 1805, pipit; "XX. Phyllanthus Capucinus, Lesson, N. Sp. Cet oiseau a les formes de la timalia thoracica de Temm. (pl. 76), et semble placé sur les confins des genres timalia et garrulax. Mais sa queue égale l'éloigne des timalies dont on connaît 14 espèces, des cinclosomes indiens, des sibia et des macronus. C'est une espèce du genre phyllanthe, tel que nous l'avons restreint, c'est à dire au malacocircus striatus de Swarinson [sic] et à l'oriolus squamiceps de Kittlitz. Notre oiseau formera donc la troisième espèce de ce genre asiatique. ... Notre oiseau a le porte et l'aspect de la timalia thoracica qui devra rentrer dans le genre phyllanthus. Sa commissure a aussi quelques courtes soies. Sa taille est celle d'un merle d'Europe ... On ignore le point de l'Asie d'où provient cet oiseau." (Lesson 1844); "Phyllanthus Lesson, 1844, Écho du Monde Savant, 11, col. 1165. Type, by subsequent designation (Sharpe, 1883, Cat. Birds British Mus., VII, p. 483), Phyllanthus capuzinus “Less.” Sharpe, 1883, i.e. Phyllanthus capucinus Lesson, 1844 = Crateropus atripennis Swainson, 1837." (JAJ 2022).
Ramphoxanthus: (Ramphastidae; syn. Aulacorhynchus † Emerald Toucanet A. prasinus) Gr. ῥαμφος rhamphos bill; ξανθος xanthos yellow; "11. RAMPHOXANTHUS, Bp. — 43. albivitta, Boissonn. (microrhynchus? Sturm.) — 44. prasinus, Licht." (Bonaparte 1854); "Ramphoxanthus Bonaparte, 1854, Conspectus Volucrum Zygodactylorum, p. 4. Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1855, Cat. Genera Subgenera Birds Brit. Mus., p. 85), Pteroglossus prasinus Licht., i.e. Gould, 1833." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Rhamphoxanthus.
Uracanthus: (Phasianidae; syn. Centrocercus † Greater Sage Grouse C. urophasianus) Gr. ουρα oura tail; ακανθα akantha spine, thorn < ακη akē point (see urophasianus); “Tetrao Linn. ... Uracanthus Fitz.. (Tetrao Urophasianus Pr. Bonap.)” (Fitzinger 1865); “Uracanthus Fitzinger, 1865, Sitzungsberichte Math.-Naturwiss. Classe Kaiserl. Akad. Wissenschaften, LI, abth. I, p. 295. Type, by monotypy, Tetrao urophasianus Bonaparte, 1827.” (JAJ 2023).
xanthusii (See: xantusi / xantusii) xantusi / xantusii: János Csiktaplócza Xántus (also known as John Xántus, John Xantus de Vesey, and Louis de Vésey) (1825-1894) Hungarian adventurer, collector in the USA and Mexico (Basilinna, subsp. Megascops kennicottii, syn. Melozone kieneri, syn. Rupornis magnirostris griseocauda).

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