Blue-masked Leafbird

SCI Name:  Chloropsis venusta
Protonym:  Phyllornis venusta Consp.Gen.Av. 1 p.396
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Chloropseidae / Chloropsis
Taxonomy Code:  blmlea1
Type Locality:  Sumatra.
Author:  Bonaparte
Publish Year:  1850
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

CHLOROPSIS
(Chloropseidae; † Javan Leafbird C. cochinchinensis) Gr. χλωρος khlōros  green; οψις opsis  appearance; "GENUS CHLOROPSIS, NOBIS.   TURDUS, Gmel. — PHILEDON, Cuvier. — CERTHIA, Shaw.   ...   CHAR. GEN. —Rostrum mediocre, subgracile, teretiusculum, incurvum, acutum, basi trigonum, medio ad apicem compressum; mandibula tomiis inclinantibus, pone apicem leviter utrinsecus emarginatis; mesorhinio carinatim elevato, angulo mentali rotundato.  Lingua longa apice fibroso.  Nares basales, laterales, membrana nuda postice tectæ.  Alæ rotundatæ mediocres.  Remige primo spurio, brevissimo, secundo tertioque longioribus, quarto quintoque longissimis, subæqualibus.  Cauda æqualis, mediocris, rectricibus duodecim.  Pedes insessores; tarsi et digiti breves, externo cum medio antico, basi coalito; hallux robustior; acropodia scutulata.  Ungues sulcati, compressi incurvi, hallucis validior.   Typus genericus, TURDUS cochinsinensis, Lath.   ...   The species at present known, and strictly referable to the genus, are few, and are all natives of the warm climates of Asia. From the formation of their tongue, which is long, extensile, and furnished at the tip with a pencil of cartilaginous fibres, they are supposed to feed principally upon the nectar of flowers: or, what is still more probable (judging from the strength of their bill, as compared with that of the true nectariferous species) on the juices or flesh of the tropical fruits.   ...   SYNOPSIS SPECIERUM.  CHLOROPSIS.   1. C. COCHINSINENSIS   ...   2. C. MALABARICUS   ...   3. C. SONNERATI   ...   4. C. GAMPSORYNCHUS   ...   CHLOROPSIS MALABARICUS, (NOBIS).  Malabar Chloropsis.  Plate V.   ...   Upper parts sap-green, changing in its intensity according to the light in which it is placed, and passing into gamboge-yellow behind the eyes, and where it comes in contact with the black throat. Under parts sap-green, lighter towards the vent" (Jardine & Selby 1827); "Chloropsis Jardine & Selby, 1827, Illustrations of Ornithology, 1, pt. 1, text to pl. V.   Type, by original designation, Turdus cochinsinensis Latham, 1790 = Turdus cochinchinensis Gmelin, 1789" (JAJ 2020).
Var. Chloroposis.
Synon. Phyllornis.

chloropsis
Gr. χλωρος khlōros green; οψις opsis appearance.

venusta
L. venustus  beautiful, lovely  < venus  loveliness.