Knob-billed Duck

SCI Name:  Sarkidiornis melanotos
Protonym:  Anser melanotos Indn.Zool. p.12 pl.11
Taxonomy:  Anseriformes / Anatidae / Sarkidiornis
Taxonomy Code:  comduc2
Type Locality:  Ceylon.
Author:  Pennant
Publish Year:  1769
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

SARKIDIORNIS
(Anatidae; Ϯ African Comb Duck S. melanotos) Gr. σαρκιδιον sarkidion  small piece of flesh  < dim. σαρξ sarx, σαρκος sarkos  flesh; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "GENUS VII.  SARKIDIORNIS.   EXT. CHAR. Pedes digitis posterioribus mediocribus, in tarsis alte locatis.  Tarsi mediocres.  Rostrum in maribus caruncula magna compressa culmine.  Nares rotundatæ magnæ.  Alæ una calcaria armatæ, et remigibus apices versus incurvatis.  Cauda ad apicem truncata.  ...  TYPE. Sarkidiornis melanotus.   Various have been the genera in which the bird before us has been placed (Anser melanotus, Linn.), with none of which does it agree. We have therefore proposed a new one for it.   Affinities. We have placed it, as far as we have been able (no anatomical character being known), in what appears to us to be its proper place, namely between the genera Chenalopex and Anser. It agrees with the former, in having a spur on the wing." (Eyton 1838).
Var. Sarcidiornis, Sarkidornis.

melanotos
Gr. μελας melas, μελανος melanos  black; -νωτος -nōtos  -backed  < νωτον nōton  back.
● ex “Chorlito lomo negro” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 401 (Calidris).