Emu

SCI Name:  Dromaius novaehollandiae
Protonym:  Casuarius N. Hollandiae IndexOrn. 2 p.665
Taxonomy:  Casuariiformes / Casuariidae / Dromaius
Taxonomy Code:  emu1
Type Locality:  New Holland = Sydney, New South Wales.
Author:  Latham
Publish Year:  1790
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

DROMAIUS
(Casuariidae; † Australian Emu D. novaehollandiae) Gr. δρομαιος dromaios  running at full speed  < τρεχω trekh trekhō  to run; "NEW HOLLAND EMU.  ...  Inhabits New Holland, where it is not uncommon, being frequently seen by our settlers there, but is exceedingly shy, and runs so swiftly that a greyhound can scarcely overtake it." (Stephens 1819); "EMOU, Dromiceius.  Casuarius, Lath.  Bec droit, à bords très-déprimés, arrondi à la pointe, un peu caréné en dessus. — Tête emplumée. — Gorge nue.  Esp. Casuarius novæ Hollandiæ, Lath.   ...   Dromaius [δρομαιος, velox]." (Vieillot 1816); "DROMAIUS Vieillot, 1816  M — Casuarius novaehollandiae Latham, 1790; type by monotypy." (Dickinson and Remsen (eds.), H. & M. Complete Checklist, 4th ed., 2013, 1 (Non-passerines), p. 6).
Var. Dromiceius (original spelling), Dromiciccius, Dromaeus, Dromoeus.
Synon. Chelarga, Metapteryx, Peronista, Tachea.

novaehollandae / novaehollandia / novaehollandiae
L. novus  new; Mod. L. Hollandia  Holland, Netherlands; i.e. New Holland (Mod. L. Nova Hollandia or Hollandia Nova), the name given to Western Australia by early Dutch explorers, and by which Australia was known to Europeans during the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. In ornithology the name is usually synonymous with eastern Australia, especially the modern state of New South Wales.
● ex “New-Holland White Eagle”of Latham 1781 (Accipiter).
● ex “Crested Goatsucker” of Phillip 1789 (syn. Aegotheles cristatus).
● Erroneous TL. New Holland (= Van Diemens Land = Tasmania) (syn. Anthochaera paradoxa).
● ex “White-fronted Heron” of Phillip 1789 (Ardea).
● ex “New Holland Thrush” of atham 1783 (Coracina).
● ex “New-Holland Cassowary” of Phillip 1789, and White 1790 (Dromaius).
● ex “New Holland Penguin” of Latham 1824 (Eudyptula).
● ex "Crimson-billed Gull" of Latham, 1824 (Larus).
● ex “Crested Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Nymphicus hollandicus).
● ex “New Holland Tern” of Latham 1824 (syn. Onychoprion anaethetus).
● ex “New Holland Shag” of Latham 1824 (subsp. Phalacrocorax carbo).
● ex “New Holland Creeper” of White 1790 (Phylidonyris).
● Erroneous TL. New Holland (= New Zealand) (syn. Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae).
● ex “Psittaceous Hornbill” of Phillip 1789 (Scythrops).
● ex “New-Holland Grebe” of Latham 1824 (Tachybaptus).
● ex “Blue-bellied Parrot” of Brown 1776 (syn. Trichoglossus moluccanus).
● ex “Mouse Owl” of Latham 1821 (Tyto).
● ex "Wattled Sandpiper" of Latham 1801 (subsp. Vanellus miles).

SUBSPECIES

Emu (novaehollandiae)
SCI Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae novaehollandiae
novaehollandae / novaehollandia / novaehollandiae
L. novus  new; Mod. L. Hollandia  Holland, Netherlands; i.e. New Holland (Mod. L. Nova Hollandia or Hollandia Nova), the name given to Western Australia by early Dutch explorers, and by which Australia was known to Europeans during the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. In ornithology the name is usually synonymous with eastern Australia, especially the modern state of New South Wales.
● ex “New-Holland White Eagle”of Latham 1781 (Accipiter).
● ex “Crested Goatsucker” of Phillip 1789 (syn. Aegotheles cristatus).
● Erroneous TL. New Holland (= Van Diemens Land = Tasmania) (syn. Anthochaera paradoxa).
● ex “White-fronted Heron” of Phillip 1789 (Ardea).
● ex “New Holland Thrush” of atham 1783 (Coracina).
● ex “New-Holland Cassowary” of Phillip 1789, and White 1790 (Dromaius).
● ex “New Holland Penguin” of Latham 1824 (Eudyptula).
● ex "Crimson-billed Gull" of Latham, 1824 (Larus).
● ex “Crested Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Nymphicus hollandicus).
● ex “New Holland Tern” of Latham 1824 (syn. Onychoprion anaethetus).
● ex “New Holland Shag” of Latham 1824 (subsp. Phalacrocorax carbo).
● ex “New Holland Creeper” of White 1790 (Phylidonyris).
● Erroneous TL. New Holland (= New Zealand) (syn. Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae).
● ex “Psittaceous Hornbill” of Phillip 1789 (Scythrops).
● ex “New-Holland Grebe” of Latham 1824 (Tachybaptus).
● ex “Blue-bellied Parrot” of Brown 1776 (syn. Trichoglossus moluccanus).
● ex “Mouse Owl” of Latham 1821 (Tyto).
● ex "Wattled Sandpiper" of Latham 1801 (subsp. Vanellus miles).

Emu (baudinianus)
SCI Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae baudinianus
baudinianus / baudinii
Capt. Nicolas-Thomas Baudin (1754-1803) French Navy, cartographer, explorer, commander of expedition to Australia 1800-1803 (‡Dromaius, Zanda).

Emu (minor)
SCI Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae minor
minor
L. minor  smaller  < comp. parvus  small. “Comparative names ... Specific names expressive of comparative size are also to be avoided, as they may be rendered inaccurate by the after-discovery of additional species. The names ... maximus, minor, minimus, etc. are examples of this objectionable practice” (Strickland Code 1842).
● ex “Short-eared Owl” of Pennant 1761 (syn. Asio flammeus).
● ex “Little Thrush” of Catesby 1731-1743, Edwards 1758-1764, Latham 1783, and Pennant 1785, “Turdus iliacus carolinensis” of Brisson 1760, and “Grivette de l’Amérique” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Catharus fuscescens).
● ex “Whip-poor-will” of Catesby 1731 (Chordeiles).
● ex “Coucou des palétuviers de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 813, “Petit Vieillard” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mangrove Cuckow” of Latham 1782 (Coccyzus).
● "54. PICUS.  ...  minor.  12. P. albo nigroque varius vertice rubro, ano albido.  Picus albo nigroque varius, rectricibus tribus lateralibus seminigris. Fn. svec. 83. Hasselqv. iter. 242.  Picus varius tertius. Raj. av. 43.  Picus varius minor. Alb. av. I. p. 20. t. 20.  Habitat in Europa.” (Linnaeus 1758) (Dryobates).
● ex “Fregata minor” of Brisson 1760, “Petite Frégate” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “Man of War Bird” of Edwards 1760, and “Lesser Frigate Pelican” of Latham 1785 (Fregata).
● ex “Petit Indicateur” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 242 (Indicator).
● ex “Pie-grièsche d’Italie” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 32, fig. 1 (Lanius).
● ex “Perruche à ailes noires” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “Petite perruche de l’isle de Luçon, 4ème ésp.” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Luzonian Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Loriculus philippensis).
● ex “Apiaster Philippensis minor” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Merops viridis americanus).
● ex “Little Woodcock” of Pennant 1785, and Latham 1785 (Microptera).
● ex “Troupiale de la Caroline” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 606, fig. 1, “Petit Troupiale noir” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Lesser black Oriole” of Latham 1782 (syn. Molothrus ater).
● ex “Lesser Bird of Paradise” of Latham 1783 (Paradisaea).
● ex “Barbican à ventre rose” of Levaillant 1806 (Pogonornis).
● ex “Porphyrio minor” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Porphyrula martinica).
● ex “Colymbus fluviatilis” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Tachybaptus ruficollis).
● ex “Huppe d’Afrique” of Audebert & Vieillot 1800-1802 (syn. Upupa africana).
● ex “Ringvia” of Brünnich 1764, and “Lesser Guillemot” of Pennant 1785 (syn. Uria aalge).

Emu (diemenensis)
SCI Name: Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis
diemenensis / diemenianus / diemensis
Van Diemen’s Land / Tasmania, Australia (named after Antoon van Diemen (1593-1645) Dutch colonial administrator, Gov.-Gen. of the Dutch East Indies 1636-1645).
● Erroneous TL. Van Diemen’s Land (= Kangaroo I.) (syn. Dromaius baudinianus).
● Erroneous TL. Diemen’s Land (= New Caledonia) (Philemon).