Piapiac

SCI Name:  Ptilostomus afer
Protonym:  Corvus afer Syst.Nat.ed.12 ed.12 p.157
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Corvidae / Ptilostomus
Taxonomy Code:  piapia1
Type Locality:  Senegal.
Author:  Linnaeus
Publish Year:  1766
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PTILOSTOMUS
(Corvidae; Ϯ Piapiac P. afer) Gr. πτιλον ptilon  feather; στομα stoma,  στοματος stomatos  mouth; "PTILOSTOMUS, Sw.   Bill as in Crypsirina.  Rictus bristled. Wings moderate, slightly rounded; the third, fourth, and fifth quills longest. Tail long, cuneated; the feathers lanceolate. Feet very strong and robust. Tarsus lengthened, longer than the middle toe and claw: lateral toes short, and of equal length.  Africa.    P. Senegalensis. West. Af. i. p. 135.  Ois. d'Af. pl. 54." (Swainson 1837); "Ptilostomus Swainson, 1837, Class. Birds, 2, p. 266. Type, by monotypy, Ptilostomus senegalensis Swainson = Corvus afer Linnaeus." (Vaurie in Peters 1962, XV, 260).

afer
L. Afer, Afra  African  < Africa  Africa, originally the territory of Carthage.
● Cape of Good Hope; ex “Red-breasted Green Creeper” of Edwards 1764 (Cinnyris).
● Africa (= Senegal); ex “Black-bellied Grosbeak” of Brown 1776 and Latham 1783 (Euplectes).
● Madagascar; ex “Cuculus madagascariensis major” of Brisson 1760, “Grand coucou de Madagascar” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 587, “Vourou-driou” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “African Cuckow” of Latham 1782 (syn. Leptosomus discolor).
● Cape of Good Hope; ex “Black-breasted Titmouse” of Latham 1783 (Melaniparus).
● Cape of Good Hope; ex “Variété du Coucou Edolio” of Levaillant 1806, pl. 209 (syn. Oxylophus levaillantii).
● Africa (= Benguella); ex “Perdrix d’Afrique” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 180, and “Perdrix rouge d’Afrique” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Pternistis).
● Senegal; ex “Pie du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760 (Ptilostomus).
● Maoflang, Khasi Hills, Assam (syn. Pycnonotus cafer) (probably a wordplay on cafer).
● Cape of Good Hope; ex “African Warbler” and “Spotted Yellow Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (Sphenoeacus).
● Senegal; ex “Turtur Senegalensis” of Brisson 1760 (Turtur).
● "60. TROCHILUS.   ...   afer.  2. T. curvirostris, corpore viridi, alis cæruleis, rectricibus nigris: intermediis longissimis.  Habitat in Æthiopia.  J. Burmannus." (Linnaeus 1758) (unident.; nom. dub.).