White-winged Sandpiper

SCI Name:  Prosobonia leucoptera
Protonym:  Tringa leucoptera Syst.Nat. 1 pt2 p.678
Taxonomy:  Charadriiformes / Scolopacidae / Prosobonia
Taxonomy Code:  whwsan1
Type Locality:  Islands of Tahiti and Eimeo, ex Latham, Gen. Syn., 3, pt. 1, White-winged Sandpiper, p. 172, pi. 82.
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1789
IUCN Status:  Extinct

DEFINITIONS

PROSOBONIA
(Scolopacidae; Ϯ Tahiti Sandpiper P. leucoptera) Johnsgard 1981, is doubtless correct in suggesting that this name may be a misspelling from Gr. προσωπον prosōpon mask, with reference to the dark russet lores, cheeks and forecrown of the Tahiti Sandpiper. However, the name could be a deliberate curtailment of Prosobonasia, as if from Gr. προσο- proso- adjoining, and specific name Aphanapteryx bonasia, Red Rail (an extinct island rail which shared its demise, rufous plumage, and straight bill with the sandpiper ). Bonaparte’s diagnosis implies that this group of sandpipers had been considered close to the Rallidae, but is otherwise infuriatingly clueless. Alternatively, the Gr. προ pro indicates relationship, and the second part of the name (with that stretch of the imagination essential to students of Bonaparte’s work) could be a play on the genus Pisobia Billberg, 1827, sandpiper; "Dans les Échassiers, les Ocydromiens, démembrés des Ralliens, et les Prosoboniens, formés du seul genre Prosobonia, qui a pour type la singulière Tringa leucoptera de la Nouvelle Zélande." (Bonaparte 1850). Recent work suggests that this genus, unique in nectarivory amongst the Charadriiformes, is allied to the turnstones Arenaria.
Var. Prosoponia.
Synon. Aechmorhynchus.

leucoptera
Gr. λευκοπτερος leukopteros  white-winged  < λευκος leukos  white; -πτερος -pteros  -winged  < πτερον pteron  wing.
● ex “Crabier de Malac” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 911, and “Crabier blanc et brun” of de Buffon 1770-1786 (syn. Ardeola speciosa).
● ex “Oie des îles Malouines” of de Buffon 1770-1783, “White-winged Antarctic Goose” of Brown 1776, and “Bustard Goose” of Latham 1785 (syn. Chloephaga picta).
● ex “Focha” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 447 (Fulica).
● ex “White-winged Crossbill” of Latham 1783 (Loxia).
● ex “White-winged Sandpiper” of Latham 1785 (‡Prosobonia).
● ex “Pico triqueño” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 123 (Sporophila).
● ex “Hirondelle à ventre blanc de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 546, fig. 2 (syn. Tachycineta albiventer).
● ex “Turtur indicus fuscus. Brown Indian Dove” of Edwards 1751, and “Columba subfusca media” of Browne 1756 (syn. Zenaida asiatica).