Buff-banded Rail

SCI Name:  Gallirallus philippensis
Protonym:  Rallus philippensis Syst.Nat.ed.12 ed.12 p.263
Taxonomy:  Gruiformes / Rallidae / Gallirallus
Taxonomy Code:  bubrai1
Type Locality:  Philippines.
Author:  Linnaeus
Publish Year:  1766
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

GALLIRALLUS
(Rallidae; † Weka G. australis) Portmanteau of genera Gallus Brisson 1760, fowl, and Rallus Linnaeus, 1758, rail; "Genus Rallus, sub-genus Galli-rallus de Lafr. — Caractère du sous-genre: Rostrum Ralli, sectionis Crex (Bechst.), elongatum, compressum, rectum, culmine supra nares paulisper depresso, apice parum arcuato; nares mediocres, ovalæ, in fovea ampla plus quam dimidiam partem rostri occupante, ad apicem anticum et medium rostrum apertæ, hac fovea membrana obtecta; pedes ambulatorii, gallinacei, validi, tarsis robustissimis, digitis totis liberis, prælongis et fortibus; pollice mediocri uti apud Rallos tarso inserto, unguibus mediocribus parum curvatis; alæ brevissimæ, obtusissimæ, mollissimæ ad volatum ut versimile paucissimæ aptæ; cauda satis elongata, conica, exilis, e pennis mollibus formata; ptilosis tota lanuginosa et mollissima.  Gallirallus brachypterus de Lafr." (de La Fresnaye 1841); "Galli-rallus Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool., 1841, p. 234 [sic= 243].  Type, by monotypy, Gallirallus brachypterus Lafresnaye = Rallus troglodytes Gmelin." (Peters, 1934, II, 177); "GALLIRALLUS Lafresnaye, 1841  M  — Gallirallus brachypterus Lafresnaye, 1841; type by monotypy = Rallus australis Sparrman, 1786  ...  Includes "troglodytes"" (Dickinson and Remsen (eds.), H. & M. Complete Checklist, 4th ed., 2013, 1 (Non-passerines), p. 134).
Synon. Brachypteryx, Ocydromus, Sylvestrornis, Tricholimnas.

philippense / philippensis
Philippine Is. (Felipina, an early name (1543) given to the island of Leyte in honour of the Infante Felipe (Philip) of Spain, later Philip II (1527–1598: reigned 1556–1598)).
● ex “Rubetra philippensis major” of Brisson 1760, “Grand traquet des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 185, fig. 2, and de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Traquet de Manille” of Salerne 1767 (syn. Agropsar philippensis).
● ex “Rasle rayé des Philippines” of Brisson 1760 (Hypotaenidia).
● ex “Petite Grive des Philippines” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Philippine Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Ixos philippinus).
● ex “Perruche des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 520 (Loriculus).
● ex “Bucco philippensis” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Megalaima haemacephala).
● (Statius Müller 1776) ex “Merle solitaire des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 339 (subsp. Monticola solitarius).
● (Boddaert 1783) ex “Merle solitaire des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 339 (syn. Monticola solitarius philippensis).
● ex “Pélican des Philippines” of Brisson 1760, and “Philippine Pelican” of Latham 1785 (Pelecanus).
● ex “Merle des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 89 (syn. Pitta sordida).
● Erroneous TL. Philippine Is. (= Cayenne); ex “Cancrophagus philippensis” of Brisson 1760, “Crabier des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 898, “Petit Crabier” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Philippine Heron” of Latham 1785 (syn. Zebrilus undulatus).
● ex “Moucherolle des Philippines” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Philippine Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (unident.).

SUBSPECIES

Buff-banded Rail (andrewsi)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis andrewsi
andrewsi
● Dr Roy Chapman Andrews (1884-1960) US palaeontologist, archaeologist, zoologist, collector, explorer (subsp. Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus, syn. Megalurus palustris toklao).
● Dr Charles William Andrews (1866-1924) British palaeontologist at BMNH, collector on Christmas Island 1897, 1908 (Fregata, subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).

Buff-banded Rail (philippensis)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis philippensis
philippense / philippensis
Philippine Is. (Felipina, an early name (1543) given to the island of Leyte in honour of the Infante Felipe (Philip) of Spain, later Philip II (1527–1598: reigned 1556–1598)).
● ex “Rubetra philippensis major” of Brisson 1760, “Grand traquet des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 185, fig. 2, and de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Traquet de Manille” of Salerne 1767 (syn. Agropsar philippensis).
● ex “Rasle rayé des Philippines” of Brisson 1760 (Hypotaenidia).
● ex “Petite Grive des Philippines” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Philippine Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Ixos philippinus).
● ex “Perruche des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 520 (Loriculus).
● ex “Bucco philippensis” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Megalaima haemacephala).
● (Statius Müller 1776) ex “Merle solitaire des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 339 (subsp. Monticola solitarius).
● (Boddaert 1783) ex “Merle solitaire des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 339 (syn. Monticola solitarius philippensis).
● ex “Pélican des Philippines” of Brisson 1760, and “Philippine Pelican” of Latham 1785 (Pelecanus).
● ex “Merle des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 89 (syn. Pitta sordida).
● Erroneous TL. Philippine Is. (= Cayenne); ex “Cancrophagus philippensis” of Brisson 1760, “Crabier des Philippines” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 898, “Petit Crabier” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Philippine Heron” of Latham 1785 (syn. Zebrilus undulatus).
● ex “Moucherolle des Philippines” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Philippine Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (unident.).

Buff-banded Rail (pelewensis)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis pelewensis
pelewensis
Pelew / Palau / Belau Is., Micronesia.

Buff-banded Rail (xerophilus)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis xerophilus
xerophila / xerophilus
Gr. ξηρος xēros  austere, dry land; φιλος  philos loving  < φιλεω phileō  to love  < φιλος philos  lover.

Buff-banded Rail (wilkinsoni)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis wilkinsoni
wilkinsoni
Johnson Wilkinson (d. 1928) British naturalist (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).

Buff-banded Rail (lacustris)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis lacustris
lacustris
Mod. L. lacustris  lacustrine, relating to lakes  < L. lacus, lacuus  lake.

Buff-banded Rail (reductus)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis reductus
reducta / reductus
L. reductus  remote, distant, lonely  < reducere  to lead back.

Buff-banded Rail (anachoretae)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis anachoretae
anachoreta / anachoretae
L. anachoreta  hermit  < Gr. αναχωρητης anakhōrētēs  hermit, recluse  < αναχωρεω anakhōreō  to retire.
● Anchorite Is. / Kaniet Is., Admiralty Is. (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).
● Hermit Is., Admiralty Is. (subsp. Todiramphus saurophagus).

Buff-banded Rail (admiralitatis)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis admiralitatis
admiralitatis
Admiralty Is., New Guinea / Manus Province, Papua New Guinea.

Buff-banded Rail (praedo)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis praedo
praedo
L. praedo, praedonis  robber  < praeda  booty.

Buff-banded Rail (lesouefi)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis lesouefi
lesouefi
William Henry Dudley Le Souef (1856-1923) Australian zoologist, founding member RAOU, Director of Melbourne Zoological Gardens 1902-1923, collector, photographer (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).

Buff-banded Rail (meyeri)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis meyeri
meyeri / meyerianus / meyerii
● Dr Aron Baruch Meyer (known as Adolf Bernhard Meyer) (1840-1911) German physician, collector in the East Indies and New Guinea 1870-1873, Director of Royal Mus. Dresden 1874-1906, zoologist, anthropologist (Accipiter, Chalcites (ex Chrysococcyx splendidus Mayer, 1874), syn. Cinnyris jugularis plateni, Edolisoma, Epimachus, syn. Leptocoma sericea porphyrolaema (ex Hermotimia porphyrolaema scapulata Meyer & Wiglesworth, 1896), subsp. Myzomela nigrita, Pachycephala (ex Pachycephala affinis Meyer, 1884), Philemon (ex Tropidorhynchus inornatus Meyer, 1875), subsp. Pitohui kirhocephalus, subsp. Pucrasia macrolopha, syn. Rhipidura atra, subsp. Tanysiptera galatea, subsp. Timeliopsis fulvigula, syn. Todiramphus chloris, Trichoglossus, subsp. Xanthotis flaviventer (ex Ptilotis pyrrhotis Meyer, 1875)).
● Dr Bernhard Meyer (1767–1836) German botanist, ornithologist, collector (syn. Limosa lapponica, Poicephalus).
● Fr. P. Rudolf Otto Maria Meyer (1877-1937) German missionary to the Bismarck Archipelago 1902-1937 (syn. Acrocephalus stentoreus sumbae, subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis, subsp. Ptilinopus solomonensis).

Buff-banded Rail (christophori)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis christophori
christophori
● San Cristobal I. (Spanish Cristobal Christopher), Solomon Is. (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis, subsp. Pachycephala orioloides).
● Etymology undiscovered (cf. Lake Christopher, Western Australia); "672A. Gerygone tenebrosa christophori subsp. n.  Allied Dusky Flyeater.  Mathews, Handlist No. 464 (pars).  Differs from G. t. tenebrosa in being more buffy brown on the back, especially on the rump.  Type: Carnarvon, West Australia, No. 9632.  Range: Mid Westralia." (Mathews 1912, Novitates Zool., 18 (1911), 311) (subsp. Gerygone tenebrosa).

Buff-banded Rail (mellori)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis mellori
mellori
John White Mellor (1868-1931) Australian ornithologist, founder member of the RAOU (syn. Acanthiza uropygialis, syn. Acrocephalus australis, syn. Chalcites basalis, Corvus, syn. Cracticus nigrogularis, subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis, syn. Psitteuteles versicolor, syn. Ptilotula penicillata, subsp. Sericornis frontalis).

Buff-banded Rail (assimilis)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis assimilis
assimile / assimilis
L. assimilis  similar, like.  Indicates a close resemblance or relationship to another, but not necessarily congeneric, species.  Over forty forms have been given this epithet; only some examples follow.
● "4. Collocalia francica assimilis subsp. n.   Rücken und Unterseite etwas heller als bei den beiden vorhergehenden Formen [Collocalia francica towsendi [sic]] und mit der typischen Form übereinstimmend; von dieser ist C. fr. assimilis indessen durch die dunklere Färbung des Oberkopfes und die durchschnittlich geringere Grösse wohl unterschieden." (Stresemann 1912) (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius).
● "Tanagra (Arrémon, Vieillot; Embernagra, Lesson) assimilis, Boiss. — Cette espèce est très-voisine par sa coloration de l'Arrémon à collier de Vieillot, ou oiseau silencieux de Buffon [Arremon taciturnus], mais elle est d'un tiers plus forte et n'a pas de collier noir sur la poitrine." (Boissonneau 1840) (Arremon).
● "91. CUCULUS ASSIMILIS.   Allied to C. flavus [= syn. Cacomantis merulinus].  ...  Hab. Aru Islands.  ♀ in Mr. Wallace's Collection." (G. Gray 1858) (syn. Cacomantis variolosus infaustus).
● "Alcyone Assimilis (allied kingfisher).—The specific name which I have applied to this species has reference to the similarity which exists between our A. Pusilla and itself, but the general dulness of color throughout, and the absence of the slightest tinge of green sufficiently distinguish it." (Diggles 1873) (syn. Ceyx pusillus).
● "41. Chlorostilbon assimilis, sp. nov.  ...  This species is somewhat like C. melanorhynchus, Gould, but is smaller; the bill is much shorter and comparatively weaker; the crown is uniform in color with the back, not brilliant as in melanorhynchus, the latter species is also more golden on the abdomen, and has the tail less forked with the feathers narrower." (Lawrence 1861) (Chlorostilbon).
● “CIRCUS ASSIMILIS, (NOBIS).  ...  In general form and colour it closely resembles the females of the true Circi, particularly of our own British species, that of the C. ranivorus of Africa, and of the C. histrionicus.  It is, however, a larger and more powerful bird than any of these.” (Jardine & Selby 1828) (Circus).
● "Genus Picus, L., as restricted to the pied species forming the division Dendrocopus of Swainson.  The Indian species of this group are treated of in XIV, 916, so far as we were then cognisant of them.  We have since learned of two others described from the "Himalaya," viz. P. assimilis, Natterer,—like P. himalayanus (No. 287), but with the scapulary feathers white, and some other distinctions,—and P. scintilla, Lichtenstein" (Blyth 1849) (Dendrocopos).
● "5 GERYGONE ASSIMILIS, Buller. — In form and color this bird is hardly distinguishable from G. flaviventris, although somewhat larger." (Buller 1865) (syn. Gerygone igata).
● "Eriocnemis assimilis.  ...  Elle est très-voisine de l'E. aureliæ. Bourc. et Mulsant, mais elle a les plumes duveteuses des tarses, d'un jaune-brunâtre uni, tandis que celles d'aureliæ sont blanches avec quelques-unes carnées ou roussâtres à la base.  Il y a entre ces deux espèces la même différence qui existe avec l'Eriocnemis lugens et l'E. squamata de Gould, et celles-ci ont généralement été acceptées par les naturalistes comme de bonnes espèces." (Elliot 1876) (Haplophaedia).
● "MUNIA CASTANEOTHORAX ASSIMILIS, subsp. n.   Differs from M. castaneothorax (Gould) in having the chestnut band on the chest much darker in colour, and the upper tail-coverts rich chestnut-brown." (Mathews 1910) (syn. Lonchura castaneothorax).
● "MALURUS ASSIMILIS, sp. nov.  ...  The above-described species belongs to that section of the genus Malurus in which the adult males are distinguished by their chestnut shoulders, and is more closely allied to M. lamberti." (North 1901) (subsp. Malurus lamberti).
● "As the species now exhibited closely assimilates to the M. macroptera, I propose to designate it as  MICRŒCA ASSIMILIS.  ...  Nearly allied to but much less in size than M. macroptera, Vig. and Horsf., and from which it may also be distinguished by the base of the outer tail-feathers being brown." (Gould 1841) (subsp. Microeca fascinans).
● "Myrmotherula assimilis Pelzeln. N. 931. partim.  ...  M. Hauxwellii Sclater persimilis sed cauda longiore rectricibus 12 predita, secundariis et tectricibus caudae superioribus albo haud maculatis, differt" (von Pelzeln 1868) (Myrmotherula).
● "26.  Pachycephala assimilis (J. Verr. et O. des Murs.)  ...  Cette espèce se rapproche beaucoup du Pachycephala falcata [= subsp. P. rufiventris] de Gould, qui provient de la Nouvelle-Hollande; mais, en les comparant, il est impossible de les confondre, ce qui nous a décidés à lui imposer le nom d'assimilis." (J. Verreaux & des Murs 1860) (syn. Pachycephala rufiventris xanthetraea).
● "On a former occasion, (S. F. Vol. I., p. 429, Dec. 1873) I discriminated the Ceylon Phodilus and pointed out clearly wherein it differed from the Himalayan birds.  I did not then name it, because I was under the impression that Malayan specimens differed similarly.  This, however, does not seem to be the case, and having now seen a second Ceylon specimen, presenting the same specific characters as the first, I desire to propose for it provisionally the name of PHODILUS ASSIMILIS." (Hume 1877) (Phodilus).
● "1274.  Meliornis novaehollandiae assimilis subsp. n.   Victorian White-bearded Honey Eater.  Mathews, Handlist No. 799 (pars).  Differs from M. n. novaehollandiae in its darker coloration on the head and with fewer stripes on the belly..  Type: Victoria, No. 9062." (Mathews 1912) (syn. Phylidonyris novaehollandiae campbelli).
● "BROADBENTIA FLAVA.  YELLOW HONEY-EATER.   ...   Collected near Cairns, North Queensland, in July, 1911, and is the type of B. f. assimilis."(Mathews 1925). Perhaps only a lapsus for addenda (syn. Stomiopera flava addenda).
● "Rhynchocyclus assimilis Pelzeln N. 220?  ...  Rh. sulphurescente (Spix.) similis sed minor et rostro breviore, latiore, magis acuminato." (von Pelzeln 1868) (Tolmomyias).
● "TROGON ASSIMILIS.  ...  Nearly allied to Trogon personata, but differing from that species in the tail being nearly black, in the transverse markings being very slight and in the extremities more largely tipped with white; the freckled markings of the wing are also much more minute." (Gould 1846) (subsp. Trogon personatus).

Buff-banded Rail (tounelieri)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis tounelieri
tounelieri
"naming it after a colleague of de Naurois" (Schodde & Naurois 1982) (OD per Björn Bergenholtz) (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).

Buff-banded Rail (swindellsi)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis swindellsi
swindellsi
Arthur William Swindells (1877-1960) Australian accountant, horticulturalist, oologist (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).

Buff-banded Rail (sethsmithi)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis sethsmithi
sethsmithi
● David William Seth-Smith (1875-1963) English ornithologist, aviculturalist, broadcaster, Curator of Mammals and Birds, Zoological Society of London 1909-1939 (subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis).
● Leslie Moffat Seth-Smith (1879-1955) English government surveyor, collector in Uganda (syn. Guttera verreauxi, Muscicapa, syn. Phyllastrephus xavieri).

Buff-banded Rail (ecaudatus)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis ecaudatus
ecaudata / ecaudatum / ecaudatus / ecaudotus
Mod. L. ecaudatus  tail-less, lacking a tail  < L. ex-  lacking, not; -caudatus  -tailed  < cauda  tail.
● ex “Bateleur” of Levaillant 1796, pl. 7 (Terathopius).
● ex “Dusky Rail” of Latham 1785 (syn. Zapornia sandwichensis).

Buff-banded Rail (goodsoni)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis goodsoni
goodsoni
Arthur Thomas Goodson (1873-1931) assistant ornithologist at Tring Mus. 1893-1931 (subsp. Anthus leucophrys, subsp. Colluricincla megarhyncha, subsp. Cyanoderma ruficeps, syn. Eclectus roratus solomonensis, subsp. Edolisoma melas, subsp. Hypotaenidia philippensis, subsp. Macropygia mackinlayi, subsp. Pachycephala pectoralis, Patagioenas, Phylloscopus, syn. Sericornis rufescens, syn. Stachyris leucotis obscurata, subsp. Tangara aurulenta, syn. Treron aromaticus).

Buff-banded Rail (macquariensis)
SCI Name: Gallirallus philippensis macquariensis
macquariensis
Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean.