Least Bittern

SCI Name:  Ixobrychus exilis
Protonym:  Ardea exilis Syst.Nat. 1 pt2 p.645
Taxonomy:  Pelecaniformes / Ardeidae / Ixobrychus
Taxonomy Code:  leabit
Type Locality:  Jamaica.
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1789
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

IXOBRYCHUS
(Ardeidae; Ϯ Little Bittern I. minutus) Gr. ιξιας ixias  reed-like plant (cf. ιξος ixos  mistletoe); βρυχομαι brukhomai  to bellow (cf. βρυχω brukhō  to gnash the teeth); "G. 74. IXOBRYCHUS **), Sv. Rördrom.   1. minutus:  ...  Nidificat in arundinetis, et ova 5-6 alba ponir. Timidus clamat: gäck, gäck, gäck, gäck!  ...  2. stellaris:  ...  Hab. in locis paludosis arundinetis, passim  ...  Volitans alte clamat, fere ut Corvus: kroah! in terra vero mas murmurat sona violente; huh, huh ter sexies.  ...  ** Hab. genere fere Ardeæ; sed collo plus minusve crassiore femoribusque plerumque parum nudis.  N. gen. e graecis vocis Iξος arundo, et βρυχω fremo desumtum." (Billberg 1828); "Ixobrychus Billberg, Syn. Faun. Scand., 1, pt. 2, 1828, p. 166. Type, by subsequent designation, Ardea minuta Linné. (Stone, Auk, 24, 1907, p. 192.)" (Peters 1931, I, 120).   
Synon. Ardeiralla, Ardetta, Dupetor, Erodiscus, Erythrophoyx, Nannocnus, Xanthocnus.

exilis
L. exilis  small, slender, thin  < ex  without; ile, ilis  intestines.
● ex “Minute Bittern” (= ♀) and “Mexican Bittern” of Latham 1785 (Ixobrychus).
● ex “Hummingbird of a black colour” of Bancroft 1769, and “Little Humming Bird” of Latham 1782 (subsp. Orthorhyncus cristatus).

SUBSPECIES

Least Bittern (exilis)
SCI Name: Ixobrychus exilis exilis
exilis
L. exilis  small, slender, thin  < ex  without; ile, ilis  intestines.
● ex “Minute Bittern” (= ♀) and “Mexican Bittern” of Latham 1785 (Ixobrychus).
● ex “Hummingbird of a black colour” of Bancroft 1769, and “Little Humming Bird” of Latham 1782 (subsp. Orthorhyncus cristatus).

Least Bittern (pullus)
SCI Name: Ixobrychus exilis pullus
pullus
L. pullus dark-coloured, blackish, dusky.

Least Bittern (erythromelas)
SCI Name: Ixobrychus exilis erythromelas
erythromela / erythromelaena / erythromelana / erythromelas
Gr. ερυθρομελας eruthromelas, ερυθρομελαινα eruthromelaina  blackish-red, red and black  < ερυθρος eruthros  red; μελας melas, μελαινα  melaina  black.
● ex "Black-headed Grosbeak" of Latham 1785 (Caryothraustes)
● ex “Garza roxa y negra” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 360 (subsp. Ixobrychus exilis).
● ex Tanagra rubra Linnaeus, 1766 (syn. Piranga olivacea).

Least Bittern (bogotensis)
SCI Name: Ixobrychus exilis bogotensis
bogotense / bogotensis
Bogotá (formerly Santa Fé de Bogotá), Colombia. In early ornithology “Bogotá” was used to designate a species of unknown provenance but, from the distinctive way in which the trade-skin had been prepared, presumed to be from the Spanish Main (= Spanish-held Mainland), the hinterland of north-western tropical America.

Least Bittern (peruvianus)
SCI Name: Ixobrychus exilis peruvianus
peruana / peruanum / peruanus / peruvia / peruviana / peruvianus / peruviensis
Peru. Said to be named after Biru, a local Inca encountered by the conquistadores (although the name is also accredited to a Panamanian cazique). Until the early 18^th century the Viceroyalty of Peru included all Spanish possessions in South America.
● ex “Geai du Pérou” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 625, and de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Peruvian Jay” of Latham 1781 (syn. Cyanocorax yncas).
● ex “Coq de Roche du Pérou” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 745, and de Buffon 1770-1783 (Rupicola).
● Erroneous TL. Peru (= Brazil) (Tangara).
● Erroneous TL. Peru (= Tahiti) (Vini).