Obscure Honeyeater

SCI Name:  Caligavis obscura
Protonym:  Ptilotis obscura Ibis p.383
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Meliphagidae / Caligavis
Taxonomy Code:  obshon1
Type Locality:  Mt. Scratchley, southeastern New Guinea.
Author:  De Vis
Publish Year:  1897
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

CALIGAVIS
(Meliphagidae; † Obscure Honeyeater C. obscura) L. caligo, caliginis  darkness, gloom; avis  bird; "CALIGAVIS gen. nov.  Type, obscura De Vis 1897 (Ptilotis).   ...   OBSCURE HONEY-SUCKER (Caligavis obscura)   ...  The name "Obscure" is most applicable as everything about the bird in literature is unclear.  The generic name Caligavis is proposed to act as a lighthouse to warn of the dangers in connection with the two species, the type being obscura, and the characters are the dark coloration, streaked above and below, small size with tail shorter than wing, short bill with longer legs and the bare eye space.   ...   In New Guinea, the species [Caligavis subfrenata] is even more confused than the preceding, as no fewer than seven names have been given to it though its range is co-incident with that." (Iredale 1956); "Caligavis Iredale, 1956, Birds New Guinea, I, p. xv; II, p. 150.  Type, by original designation, Ptilotis obscura De Vis, 1897." (JAJ 2020).

obscura
L. obscurus  dark, dusky, covered, obscure.
● ex “Dusky Duck” of Pennant 1785, and Latham 1785 (syn. Anas rubripes).
● ex “Brown Tern” of Pennant 1768, and Latham 1785 (syn. Chlidonias niger).
● ex “Yacúhú” of de Azara 1802-1805, No. 335: “Yacús  ...  Asi llaman los Güaranís á tres páxaros  ...  á otro llamado Mitú” (Penelope).
● ex “Dusky Petrel” of Latham 1785 (?syn. Pterodroma alba; unident.).

SUBSPECIES

Obscure Honeyeater (viridifrons)
SCI Name: Caligavis obscura viridifrons
viridifrons
L. viridis  green  < virere  to be green; frons, frontis  forehead, brow.

Obscure Honeyeater (obscura)
SCI Name: Caligavis obscura obscura
obscura
L. obscurus  dark, dusky, covered, obscure.
● ex “Dusky Duck” of Pennant 1785, and Latham 1785 (syn. Anas rubripes).
● ex “Brown Tern” of Pennant 1768, and Latham 1785 (syn. Chlidonias niger).
● ex “Yacúhú” of de Azara 1802-1805, No. 335: “Yacús  ...  Asi llaman los Güaranís á tres páxaros  ...  á otro llamado Mitú” (Penelope).
● ex “Dusky Petrel” of Latham 1785 (?syn. Pterodroma alba; unident.).