Variegated Antpitta

SCI Name:  Grallaria varia
Protonym:  Formicarius varius TablePlanchesEnlum. p.44
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Grallariidae / Grallaria
Taxonomy Code:  varant2
Type Locality:  Cayenne, ex Daubenton, PL enlum., pi. 702.
Author:  Boddaert
Publish Year:  1783
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

GRALLARIA
(Grallariidae; Ϯ Variegated Antpitta G. varia) Mod. L. grallarius  stilt-walker  < L. grallae  stilts  < obsolete gradula  little step  < dim. gradus  step; "GRALLARIE, Grallaria.  Turdus, Linn. Gm. Lath.  Bec droit, un peu fort, épais, convexe en dessus, à dos caréné, comprimé par les côtés; mandibule supérieure échancrée et courbée à la pointe. — Jambes demi-nues. — Queue courte.   Esp. Roi des Fourmilliers, Buff." (Vieillot 1816); "Grallaria Vieillot, Analyse, 1816, p. 43. Type, by monotypy, Roi des Fourmilliers, Buffon = Formicarius varius Boddaert." (Peters, 1951, VII, p. 262).
Synon. Agaura, Chamaebates, Colobathris, Hypsibemon, Myiotrichas, Myioturdus, Oropezus.

grallaria
Mod. L. grallarius  stilt-walker  < L. grallae  stilts  < obsolete gradula  little step  < dim. gradus  step.

varia
L. varius  various, diverse, variegated.
● ex “Ispida ex albo et nigro varia” of Brisson 1760, and “Martin-pêcheur huppé du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 716 (syn. Ceryle rudis).
● ex “Roi des Fourmiliers de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 702 (Grallaria).
● ex “Martin-pêcheur huppé du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 716 (syn. Megaceryle maxima).
● "114. MOTACILLA.  ...  varia.  23. M. albo nigroque maculata, fasciis alarum duabus albis, cauda bifida.  Ficedula  dominicensis varia. Briss. av. 3. p. 529. t. 27. f. 5.  Muscicapa fusco & albo varia. Sloan. jam. 2. p. 309. t. 265. f. 1. Raj. av. 186.  Habitat in Jamaica, Dominica." (Linnaeus 1766) (Mniotilta).
● ex “Pardali bellonii congener” of Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and “Vanellus varius” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Pluvialis squatarola).
● ex “Motacilla velia” of Desmarest 1805 (syn. Tangara velia).
● ex “Tangara tacheté de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 301, fig. 1 (Tangara).
● ex “Varied Parrakeet” of Latham 1785 (syn.Vini peruviana).

SUBSPECIES

Variegated Antpitta (cinereiceps)
SCI Name: Grallaria varia cinereiceps
cinereiceps
L. cinereus  ash-coloured  < cinis, cineris  ashes; -ceps  -headed  < caput, capitis  head.

Variegated Antpitta (varia)
SCI Name: Grallaria varia varia
varia
L. varius  various, diverse, variegated.
● ex “Ispida ex albo et nigro varia” of Brisson 1760, and “Martin-pêcheur huppé du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 716 (syn. Ceryle rudis).
● ex “Roi des Fourmiliers de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 702 (Grallaria).
● ex “Martin-pêcheur huppé du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 716 (syn. Megaceryle maxima).
● "114. MOTACILLA.  ...  varia.  23. M. albo nigroque maculata, fasciis alarum duabus albis, cauda bifida.  Ficedula  dominicensis varia. Briss. av. 3. p. 529. t. 27. f. 5.  Muscicapa fusco & albo varia. Sloan. jam. 2. p. 309. t. 265. f. 1. Raj. av. 186.  Habitat in Jamaica, Dominica." (Linnaeus 1766) (Mniotilta).
● ex “Pardali bellonii congener” of Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and “Vanellus varius” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Pluvialis squatarola).
● ex “Motacilla velia” of Desmarest 1805 (syn. Tangara velia).
● ex “Tangara tacheté de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 301, fig. 1 (Tangara).
● ex “Varied Parrakeet” of Latham 1785 (syn.Vini peruviana).

Variegated Antpitta (distincta)
SCI Name: Grallaria varia distincta
distincta
L. distinctus distinct < distinguere to separate.
• "Grallaria varia distincta, subsp. nov.   Dr. Hellmayr has already called attention to the peculiarities of this race, as represented by specimens from the Rio Madeira.  It is similar to varia, but the buff shaft-streaks of the upperparts are more distinct; the tail is brighter colored, nearer amber brown than argus brown; the markings of the under parts are more brownish, less rufescent, and tend more to break up into spots or bars posteriorly; and the under wing- and tail-coverts average brighter, more ochraceous." (Todd 1927) (subsp. Grallaria varia).

Variegated Antpitta (intercedens)
SCI Name: Grallaria varia intercedens
intercedens
L. intercedens, intercedentis  interposed, coming between  < intercedere  to come between.
● Not only does the Growling Riflebird occupy eastern New Guinea, between the ranges of the two subspp. of the Magnificent Riflebird L. magnifica, but the female resembles the female of the nominate subsp. and the male resembles the male of the other (Lophorina).

Variegated Antpitta (imperator)
SCI Name: Grallaria varia imperator
imperator
L. imperator, imperatoris  emperor, commander  < imperare  to rule over (e.g. imperious, impressive).
● "Clytoceyx rex imperator nov. subsp.  ...  As to the coloration this example agrees with Clytoceyx rex Sharpe  ...  It is however considerably larger and has also a much heavier bill.  ...  The difference in size is so striking, that our specimen must belong to a different form, which I don't hesitate to name here" (van Oort 1909) (subsp. Clytoceyx rex).
● ex “Traquet Commandeur” of Levaillant 1806, pl. 189 (syn. Myrmecocichla nigra).