Mexican Hermit

SCI Name:  Phaethornis mexicanus
Protonym:  Phaethornis mexicanus Ibis p.425
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Trochilidae / Phaethornis
Taxonomy Code:  mexher1
Type Locality:  Dos Arroyos, near Chilpancingo, Guerrero.
Author:  Hartert, E
Publish Year:  1897
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PHAETHORNIS
(Trochilidae; † Long-tailed Hermit P. superciliosus) Gr. φαεθων phaethōn  sun  < φαω phaō  to shine; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "97. Cynanthus bifurcatus.   ...   This is an aberrant species, touching the genus Phæthornis, Sw., or that group of which Troch. superciliosus of Authors forms the type." (Swainson 1827 (Philos. Mag., 1, 441)); "PHÆTHORNIS.  Rostrum elongatum, arcuatum. Cauda elongata, gradata vel cuneata.   Types. 1. T. superciliosus, L.   2. Col. tacheté? Temm., Pl. col. 120. f. 3.   3. T. chrysobronchos, Shaw." (Swainson 1827 (Zool. Journ., III, 357)); "Phæthornis Swainson, Philos. Mag. (n.s.). 1, June, 1827, p. 441.  Type, by original designation, "Troch. superciliosus of Authors" i.e. Trochilus superciliosus Linné." (Peters, 1945, V, 7).   
Var. Phaetornis, Phoethornis, Phoetornis, Phaethornus, Phaedornis, Phrethornis.   
Synon. Anisoterus, Eremita, Guyornis, Mesophila, Milornis, Ptyonornis, Pygmornis, Toxoteuches.
• (Trochilidae; syn. Thaumastura † Peruvian Sheartail T. cora) "5. Subgen.  Phaetornis Swains.   204. 7. Tr. Cora.   Orthorhynchus Cora Less. Garn. Zool. Coq. pl. 31. 4.   Ornismya Cora Man. Ornith. II. p. 82." (von Tschudi 1844); "Phaethornis von Tschudi, 1844, Archiv für Naturgesch., X, p. 297.  Type, by subsequent designation (Elliot, 1879, Smithsonian Contrib. Knowledge, 317, Classif. Synop. Trochilidae, p. 122), Orthorhynchus cora Lesson, 1827." (JAJ 2020).
• (Trochilidae; syn. Trochilus † Red-billed Streamertail T. polytmus) "Phœthornis, Swainson.  ...  La tête est sans ornament ou munie de huppes.   ESP. 13.  OISEAU-MOUCHE A TÊTE NOIRE.  Ornismya cephalatra. N.  ...  Trochilus polytmus, L. sp. 4   ...   ESP. 14. OISEAU-MOUCHE A OREILLES D'AZUR.  Ornismya aurita. N.   ...   ESP. 15.  OISEAU-MOUCHE AUX HUPPES D'OR.  Ornismya chrysolopha. N.  ...  Trochilus cornutus, prince de Wied   ...   ESP. 16.  OISEAU-MOUCHE LANGSDORFF.  Ornismya Langsdorffii. N.   ...   ESP. 17.  OISEAU-MOUCHE CORA.  Ornismya Cora. N.   ...   ESP. 18.  OISEAU-MOUCHE A QUEUE SINGULIÈRE.  Ornismya heteropygia. N.  ...  Trochilus enicurus, Vieill." (Lesson 1829); "Phaethornis Lesson, 1829, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, p. xviij.  Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 14), Ornismya cephalatra Lesson, 1829 = Trochilus polytmus Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2020).

mexicanum / mexicanus
Mexico (probably named after Mexihtli, another name for Huitzilopochtli the Aztec god of war). This toponym also included New Spain, a former name for Mexico.
● ex “Colcuicuiltu” of Hernandez 1651, and “Caille de la Louisiane” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Colinus virginianus).
● ex “Hoitlalotl” of Hernandez 1651, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Courier Pheasant” of Latham 1783 (?syn. Geococcyx velox).
● Erroneous TL. New Spain (= Cayenne); ex “Troupiale brun de la Nouvelle Espagne” (= ☼) of Brisson 1760 (Gymnomystax).
● ex “Comaltecatl” of Hernandez 1651, and “Échasse du Méxique” of Brisson 1760 (subsp. Himantopus himantopus).
● Erroneous TL. Mexico (= Jamaica) (syn. Icterus leucopteryx).
● ex “Merula mexicana” of Seba 1734-1765, “Galgulus mexicanus” of Brisson 1760, “Roller du Mexique” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mexican Roller” of Latham 1781 (?syn. Laniocera or Lipaugus sp.).
● Erroneous TL. New Spain (= Cayenne); ex “Faisan huppé de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 337, “Crested Pheasant” of Latham 1783, Phasianus cristatus J. Gmelin, 1789, and “Penelôpe hoatzin du Méxique” of Temminck 1807 (syn. Opisthocomus hoazin).
● ex “Acacalotl” of Hernandez 1651, “Acalotl” of Willughby 1676, and Ray 1713, “Numenius mexicanus varius” of Brisson 1760, “Acalot” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mexican Ibis” of Latham 1785 (?syn. Plegadis falcinellus).
● ex “Hocitzanatl” of Hernandez 1651, and Ray, 1711, “Pica Mexicana major” of Brisson 1760, “Hocisana” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “Criard” of Pernety 1771, and “Mexican Crow” of Latham 1781 (Quiscalus).
● ex “Tecolotl” of Ray 1713, “Asio mexicanus” of Brisson, and “Mexican Eared Owl” of Latham 1781 (syn. Rhinoptynx clamator).
● ex “Yacapatlahoac” of Hernandez 1651, “Anas clypeata mexicana” or “Souchet du Méxique” of Brisson 1760, and “Mexican Shoveler” of Latham 1785 (syn. Spatula clypeata).
● Erroneous TL. Mexico (= Puerto Rico) (Todus).
● ex “Avis Cocho Psittaci mexicani species” of Seba 1734, and “Psittaca mexicana lutea” of Brisson 1760 (unident.).
● ex “Avis de cocho, psittaci species mexicana vario colore” of Seba 1734, “Psittacula mexicana cristata” of Brisson 1760, and “Crested Mexican Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (unident.).
● ex “Caxcaxtototl” of Ray 1713, “Cotinga mexicana” of Brisson 1760, “Cacastol” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mexican Stare” of Latham 1783 (unident.).

SUBSPECIES

Mexican Hermit (Jalisco)
SCI Name: Phaethornis mexicanus griseoventer
griseoventer / griseoventris
Med. L. griseum grey; L. venter, ventris belly.

Mexican Hermit (Mexican)
SCI Name: Phaethornis mexicanus mexicanus
mexicanum / mexicanus
Mexico (probably named after Mexihtli, another name for Huitzilopochtli the Aztec god of war). This toponym also included New Spain, a former name for Mexico.
● ex “Colcuicuiltu” of Hernandez 1651, and “Caille de la Louisiane” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Colinus virginianus).
● ex “Hoitlalotl” of Hernandez 1651, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Courier Pheasant” of Latham 1783 (?syn. Geococcyx velox).
● Erroneous TL. New Spain (= Cayenne); ex “Troupiale brun de la Nouvelle Espagne” (= ☼) of Brisson 1760 (Gymnomystax).
● ex “Comaltecatl” of Hernandez 1651, and “Échasse du Méxique” of Brisson 1760 (subsp. Himantopus himantopus).
● Erroneous TL. Mexico (= Jamaica) (syn. Icterus leucopteryx).
● ex “Merula mexicana” of Seba 1734-1765, “Galgulus mexicanus” of Brisson 1760, “Roller du Mexique” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mexican Roller” of Latham 1781 (?syn. Laniocera or Lipaugus sp.).
● Erroneous TL. New Spain (= Cayenne); ex “Faisan huppé de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 337, “Crested Pheasant” of Latham 1783, Phasianus cristatus J. Gmelin, 1789, and “Penelôpe hoatzin du Méxique” of Temminck 1807 (syn. Opisthocomus hoazin).
● ex “Acacalotl” of Hernandez 1651, “Acalotl” of Willughby 1676, and Ray 1713, “Numenius mexicanus varius” of Brisson 1760, “Acalot” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mexican Ibis” of Latham 1785 (?syn. Plegadis falcinellus).
● ex “Hocitzanatl” of Hernandez 1651, and Ray, 1711, “Pica Mexicana major” of Brisson 1760, “Hocisana” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “Criard” of Pernety 1771, and “Mexican Crow” of Latham 1781 (Quiscalus).
● ex “Tecolotl” of Ray 1713, “Asio mexicanus” of Brisson, and “Mexican Eared Owl” of Latham 1781 (syn. Rhinoptynx clamator).
● ex “Yacapatlahoac” of Hernandez 1651, “Anas clypeata mexicana” or “Souchet du Méxique” of Brisson 1760, and “Mexican Shoveler” of Latham 1785 (syn. Spatula clypeata).
● Erroneous TL. Mexico (= Puerto Rico) (Todus).
● ex “Avis Cocho Psittaci mexicani species” of Seba 1734, and “Psittaca mexicana lutea” of Brisson 1760 (unident.).
● ex “Avis de cocho, psittaci species mexicana vario colore” of Seba 1734, “Psittacula mexicana cristata” of Brisson 1760, and “Crested Mexican Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (unident.).
● ex “Caxcaxtototl” of Ray 1713, “Cotinga mexicana” of Brisson 1760, “Cacastol” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Mexican Stare” of Latham 1783 (unident.).