White-throated Needletail

SCI Name:  Hirundapus caudacutus
Protonym:  Hirundo caudacuta Suppl.ind.orn. p.lvii
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Apodidae / Hirundapus
Taxonomy Code:  whtnee
Type Locality:  New Holland = New South Wales, apud Mathews.
Author:  Latham
Publish Year:  1801
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

HIRUNDAPUS
(Apodidae; Ϯ White-throated Needletail H. caudacutus nudipes) Portmanteau of genera Hirundo Linnaeus, 1758, swallow, and Apus Scopoli, 1777, swift; “CYPSELUS.  Chætura.   Species 1st. Nudipes, nobis.   ...  Remark. This singular species, by the structure of its feet, opens a passage from Hirundo to Cypselus.  Though variously allied to Pelasgia, Acuta, Caudacuta, and Gigantea, it exhibits, I believe, a distinct type of form—being certainly not a Chætura as defined by STEVENS, nor a Cypselus of ILLIGER; far less a swallow.  It climbs with great power aided equally by its talons and its tail.  Its habitat is the northern region, whence it sometimes wanders into the mountains of the central, avoiding however the open and level country.  I have set it down in my note book as the type of a new genus, called Hirund-apus.” (Hodgson 1837); "Hirund-apus Hodgson, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, 5, 1836 (1837), p. 780.  Type, by original designation and monotypy, Cypselus (Chaetura) nudipes Hodgson." (Peters, 1940, IV, p. 232).
Var. Hirundinapus.
Synon. Pallenia.

caudacuta / caudacutus
L. cauda  tail; acutus  sharp-pointed  < acuere  to sharpen to a point.
● ex “Sharp-tailed Oriole” of Latham 1782, and Pennant 1785 (Ammospiza).
● ex “Cola de agujas” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 227 (Culicivora).

SUBSPECIES

White-throated Needletail (caudacutus)
SCI Name: Hirundapus caudacutus caudacutus
caudacuta / caudacutus
L. cauda  tail; acutus  sharp-pointed  < acuere  to sharpen to a point.
● ex “Sharp-tailed Oriole” of Latham 1782, and Pennant 1785 (Ammospiza).
● ex “Cola de agujas” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 227 (Culicivora).

White-throated Needletail (nudipes)
SCI Name: Hirundapus caudacutus nudipes
nudipes
L. nudipes, nudipedis  bare-footed  < nudus  bare; pes, pedis  foot  < Gr. πους pous, ποδος podos  foot.
● ex “Grand Duc déchaussé” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Bubo bubo).