Chattering Kingfisher

SCI Name:  Todiramphus tutus
Protonym:  Alcedo tuta Syst.Nat. 1 pt1 p.453 no.28
Taxonomy:  Coraciiformes / Alcedinidae / Todiramphus
Taxonomy Code:  chakin2
Type Locality:  Tahiti.
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1788
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

TODIRAMPHUS
(Alcedinidae; Ϯ Chattering Kingfisher T. tutus) Genus Todus Brisson 1760, tody; Gr. ῥαμφος rhamphos  bill; “Ce groupe est remarquable aussi par la forme aplatie du bec qui rappelle celle des Todiers.  ...  L'Alcedo sacra, si mal décrit par les auteurs, formera notre genre Todiramphus, et l'Halcyon sanctus de MM. Horsfield et Vigors demeurera dans le genre Alcedo dont il a tous les caractères.   TODIRAMPHE. Todiramphus.  ...  Les insulaires des îles de la Société les nomment O-tataré. C'etaient, avec le Crabier-Blanc, des oiseaux vénérés dans l'ancienne religion de ces peuples; il était défendu de les tuer sous des peines sévères, et leur dépouille servait d'offrande au grand dieu Oro.   1^re ESPÈCE. TODIRAMPHE SACRÉ. Todiramphus sacer, Less. Tab. XI.  Alcedo tuta, Gm., Sp. 28; Lath., Syn. Sp. 17?  Alcedo sacra, Gm., Sp. 30. Var. A. Lath., Sp. 15. Var. a?  Sacred King's fisher, pl. 27. Latham, Gen. Syn. Var. C. p. 622. p. II?” (Lesson 1827).   
Var. Todirramphus, Todirhamphus.   
Synon. Antisyma, Coporhamphus, Cyanalcyon, Dilazula, Dilazulena, Entomophila, Hyposyma, Lazulena, Leucalcyon, Melanalcyon, Sauropatis, Sauropatoides, Todalcyon.

tutus
L. tutus  regarded, protected  < tuere  to regard.
● ex “Respected Kingsfisher” of Latham 1782: “It is accounted sacred, and not allowed to be taken nor killed ... The whole of the birds described under this and the two former numbers [Sacred Kingsfisher, Venerated Kingsfisher], are held in a kind of superstitious veneration by the natives of the places they severally inhabit, perhaps on account of their being frequently seen flying about the Morais or burial-places ... But the Kingsfisher is not the only animal held sacred by those islanders, as Herons, Rats, and Flies enter the same list” (Todiramphus).

SUBSPECIES

Chattering Kingfisher (tutus)
SCI Name: Todiramphus tutus tutus
tutus
L. tutus  regarded, protected  < tuere  to regard.
● ex “Respected Kingsfisher” of Latham 1782: “It is accounted sacred, and not allowed to be taken nor killed ... The whole of the birds described under this and the two former numbers [Sacred Kingsfisher, Venerated Kingsfisher], are held in a kind of superstitious veneration by the natives of the places they severally inhabit, perhaps on account of their being frequently seen flying about the Morais or burial-places ... But the Kingsfisher is not the only animal held sacred by those islanders, as Herons, Rats, and Flies enter the same list” (Todiramphus).

Chattering Kingfisher (atiu)
SCI Name: Todiramphus tutus atiu
atiu
Atiu I., Cook Is.

Chattering Kingfisher (mauke)
SCI Name: Todiramphus tutus mauke
mauke
Mauke I., Cook Is.