Biak Coucal

SCI Name:  Centropus chalybeus
Protonym:  Nesocentor chalybeus Ann.Mus.Civ.Stor.Nat.Genova 7(1875) p.915
Taxonomy:  Cuculiformes / Cuculidae / Centropus
Taxonomy Code:  biacou1
Type Locality:  Misori.
Author:  Salvadori
Publish Year:  1876
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

CENTROPUS
(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.

chalybeus
L. chalybeius  steely  < Gr. χαλυβηιος khalubēios  steely  < χαλυψ khalups, χαλυβος khalubos  steel.
● ex “Crabier du Brésil” of Brisson 1760, and “Crabier chalybé” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Butorides striatus).
● ex “Grimpereau à collier du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of Brisson 1760 (Cinnyris).