(Cuculidae; Ϯ Senegal Coucal C. senegalensis) Gr. κεντρον kentron  spur, spike; πους pous, ποδος podos  foot; "This genus is distinguished from all other members of the family by having on the hallux a long nearly straight hind claw, very much like a Lark's." (Blanford 1895).  The coucals were formerly known as 'lark-heeled cuckoos.'  The substantive 'Coucal' is derived from French Coucou  cuckoo, and Alouette  lark; "GENUS 13. CENTROPUS (κεντρον stimulus, calcar  πους pes) (Spornfuß Germ.) Rostrum capiti brevius, incurvum, valde compressum, grypanium.  Tomia integerrima.  Nares plumis recumbentibus tectae.  Lingua . . .  Cauda gradata, elongata.  Pedes scansorii, congrui. Digiti externi internis longiores, antici fissi, posticorum externus versatilis? Ungues incurvi, posticus internus reliquis aliquantum longior, retiusculus, subulatus.  Species: Cuculus Aegyptius, Tolu LinGmel." (Illiger 1811); "Centropus Illiger, Prodromus, 1811, p. 205. Type, by subsequent designation, Cuculus aegyptius Gmelin. (G. R. Gray, List Gen. Bds., 1840, p. 56.)" (Peters, 1940, IV, p. 66). 
Var. Certropus, Certtopus, Centrophus. 
Synon. Anacentropus, Centrococcyx, Corydonyx, Grillia, Huhus, Megacentropus, Nesocentor, Nisus, Onixylus, Polophilus, Pyrrhocentor, Toulou.

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 (Spilopelia).
● 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).