Black Bishop

SCI Name:  Euplectes gierowii
Protonym:  Euplectes gierowii J.Orn. 28 p.106
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Ploceidae / Euplectes
Taxonomy Code:  blabis1
Type Locality:  interior of southwestern Africa (Malange [northern Angola], in Reichenow (1904, Vog. Afr., 3, p. 118)).
Author:  Cabanis
Publish Year:  1880
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

EUPLECTES
(Ploceidae; Ϯ Southern Red Bishop E. orix) Gr. ευ eu  fine, good; Mod. L. plectes  weaver  < Gr. πλεκω plekō  to plait; "DIVISIONS OR SUB-GENERA.  MALIMBUS. Vieil.  ...  PLOCEUS. Cuv.  ...  EUPLECTES. Nob.  Bill of Ploceus. Toes and claws very slender. The greater quills scarcely longer than the lesser; spurious quill very minute.  Type, Loxia Orix. L.  ...  The Weaving Birds, confined to the hotter regions of the old world, are chiefly found in Africa, where they represent the Hangnests (Icterinæ) of America: an analogy long since remarked by Buffon. Both these tribes astonish us by the consummate skill with which they fabricate their nests: but the intelligence displayed by the African Weavers is still more wonderful." (Swainson 1829); "Euplectes Swainson, Zool. Illustr. 2nd ser. i, text to pl. 37, 1929 [sic = 1829].  Type by original designation, Loxia orix Linn." (W. Sclater, 1930, Syst. Av. Aethiop., II, p. 759).
Var. Eupodes.
Synon. Boetticherella, Chera, Coliuspasser, Coliostruthus, Diatropura, Drepanoplectes, Groteiplectes, Hyperanthus, Niobe, Niobella, Oryx, Paraplectes, Penthetria, Penthetriopsis, Phlogoplectes, Pyromelana, Tachyplectes, Taha, Urobrachya, Xanthomelana.

gierowii
Paul Gierow (fl. 1879) German explorer, collector in Angola 1877-1879 (Euplectes).

SUBSPECIES

Black Bishop (ansorgei)
SCI Name: Euplectes gierowii ansorgei
ansorgeanus / ansorgei / ansorgii
Prof. Dr William John Ansorge (1850-1913) British physician in Mauritius, Uganda and Nigeria, zoologist, collector, explorer in tropical Africa (subsp. Acrocephalus rufescens, subsp. Anthoscopus caroli, subsp. Anthus leucophrys, syn. Apalis rufogularis angolensis, syn. Apus caffer, subsp. Calendulauda sabota, syn. Chlorophoneus bocagei, syn. Cinnyris reichenowi, subsp. Cisticola rufilatus, subsp. Criniger barbatus, Dyaphorophyia, syn. Eremomela atricollis, syn. Erythropygia leucophrys munda, subsp. Euplectes gierowii, syn. Euplectes progne delacouri, Eurillas, subsp. Indicator willcocksi, subsp. Lagonosticta rhodopareia, syn. Melaenornis infuscatus benguellensis, syn. Myioparus griseigularis, Nesocharis, syn. Numida meleagris reichenowi, subsp. Ortygospiza atricollis, subsp. Parisoma subcaeruleum, subsp. Parmoptila woodhousei, subsp. Plocepasser mahali, subsp. Prinia flavicans, subsp. Pterocles bicinctus, syn. Sarothrura rufa, subsp. Sylvia abyssinica, syn. Sylvia subcoerulea iohannis, subsp. Sylvietta rufescens, subsp. Tchagra australis, subsp. Treron calvus, subsp. Tricholaema hirsuta, Xenocopsychus).

Black Bishop (friederichseni)
SCI Name: Euplectes gierowii friederichseni
friederichseni
Ludwig Friederichsen (1841-1915) German publisher, cartographer (Björn Bergenholtz in litt.) (subsp. Euplectes gierowii).

Black Bishop (gierowii)
SCI Name: Euplectes gierowii gierowii
gierowii
Paul Gierow (fl. 1879) German explorer, collector in Angola 1877-1879 (Euplectes).