Bassian Thrush

SCI Name:  Zoothera lunulata
Protonym:  Turdus lunulata Suppl.ind.orn. p.xlii
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Turdidae / Zoothera
Taxonomy Code:  oltthr1
Type Locality:  Nova Hollandia ; restricted to Sydney by Mathews, 1920, Birds Australia, suppl. 1, check-list, p. 147.
Author:  Latham
Publish Year:  1801
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

ZOOTHERA
(Turdidae; Ϯ Long-billed Thrush Z. monticola) Gr. ζωον zōon  animal; -θηρας -thēras  -hunter  < θηραω thēraō  to hunt  < θηρ thēr, θηρος thēros  beast, animal; "A species belonging apparently to the family of Merulidæ, and to that portion of it which, from their long legs and short wings and tails, indicate their station to be on the ground, afforded an opportunity of characterizing a form which seems hitherto to have been unnoticed. The length, strength, and arcuated culmen of the bill, and the length and strength of the hallux, formed the most distinguishing points of modification.   ZOOTHERA*.  Rostrum forte, elongatum, subcurvatum, subcompressum, culmine elevato; mandibula superiori subemarginata, dente subapicali vix decernenda; naribus ovalibus, lateralibus; rictu vibrissis rigidis munito.  Alæ subbreves, subrotundatæ; remigibus prima brevi, secunda multo longiore, tertia quarta quintaque fere æqualibus longissimis, sexta his breviori at prima longiori, cæteris gradatim descrescentibus.  Pedes subelongati, subfortes, acrotarsiis integris; digitis anterioribus subfortibus, externis ad basin membrana connexis, internis liberis, medio longissimo; halluce elongato fortissimo, ungue forti elongato.  Cauda subbrevis, æqualis; rectricibus duodecim.    ZOOTHERA MONTICOLA.   ...   * The group seems to have many characters in common with Pomatorhinus, Horsf.  The strong and elevated bill constitutes the chief mark of separation.  The alliance between the two groups may serve to indicate the general affinities of the latter genus, whose place in the system has been hitherto undetermined." (Vigors 1832); "Zoothera Vigors, 1832, Proc. [Comm. Sci. Corres.] Zool. Soc. London, p. 172. Type, by monotypy, Zoothera monticola Vigors." (Ripley in Peters, 1964, X, p. 144).
Synon. Aegithocichla, Andromedon, Cichlopasser, Myiophaga, Oreocincla.

lunulata / lunulatus
L. lunulatus  crescent-shaped, lunulate  < lunula  little moon  < dim. luna  moon.
● ex “Plastron Noir” of Levaillant 1803, pl. 123 (syn. Apalis thoracica).
● “PSITTACUS (lunulatus) viridis; collo postice maculis lunaribus, nigris” (Scopoli 1786); ex “Petite Perruche à collier de l’Île de Luçon, 3ème espèce” of Sonnerat 1776 (Bolbopsittacus).
● ex “Lunulated Thrush” of Latham 1801 (Zoothera).

SUBSPECIES

Bassian Thrush (cuneata)
SCI Name: Zoothera lunulata cuneata
cuneata / cuneatus
L. cuneatus wedge-shaped < cuneus wedge.

Bassian Thrush (lunulata)
SCI Name: Zoothera lunulata lunulata
lunulata / lunulatus
L. lunulatus  crescent-shaped, lunulate  < lunula  little moon  < dim. luna  moon.
● ex “Plastron Noir” of Levaillant 1803, pl. 123 (syn. Apalis thoracica).
● “PSITTACUS (lunulatus) viridis; collo postice maculis lunaribus, nigris” (Scopoli 1786); ex “Petite Perruche à collier de l’Île de Luçon, 3ème espèce” of Sonnerat 1776 (Bolbopsittacus).
● ex “Lunulated Thrush” of Latham 1801 (Zoothera).

Bassian Thrush (halmaturina)
SCI Name: Zoothera lunulata halmaturina
halmaturina / halmaturinus
Mod. L. Insula Halmaturorum  Kangaroo I., South Australia  < Mammalian genus Halmaturus Illiger, 1811, kangaroo  < Gr. ἁλμα halma, ἁλματος halmatos  leap, jump  < ἁλλομαι hallomai  to leap; ουρα oura  tail.