Malachite Sunbird

SCI Name:  Nectarinia famosa
Protonym:  Certhia famosa Syst.Nat.ed.12 ed.12 p.187
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Nectariniidae / Nectarinia
Taxonomy Code:  malsun1
Type Locality:  Cape of Good Hope.
Author:  Linnaeus
Publish Year:  1766
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

NECTARINIA
(Nectariniidae; Ϯ Malachite Sunbird N. famosa) L. nectar, nectaris  nectar  < Gr. νεκταρ nektar, νεκταρος nektaros  nectar; “GENUS 20. NECTARINIA (Nectar florum haurientes) (Honigvogel Germ. Sucrier, Guitguit Gall.)  Rostrum vel elongatum vel mediocre, gracile, modice incurvum, teretiusculum, trigonum, apice acutissimum, tomiis intractis, versus apicem saepius subtilissime incisulo-fimbriatis, maxillaribus mandibularia amplectentibus. Gonys mandibulae duas certe partes aequans, gnathidiis ea brevioribus, angulo mentali rotundato.  Nares in maxillae basi sitae, membrana fornicali superne semiclausae, rima longitudinali versus tomium apertae.  Lingua jaculatoria, tubulosa, apice fibrosa.  Alae mediocres, remigum primorum primae breviores.  Caudae rectrices haud rigidae, apice rotundatae.  Pedes ambulatorii, mediocres, congrui, nudi.  Unguis posticus ungue medio paullo major.  Acropodia scutulata.   Species: Certhia famosa, violacea, caerulea (et Cayana) Lin.” (Illiger 1811); "Nectarinia Illiger, 1811, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. Avium, p. 210. Type, by subsequent designation (G. R. Gray, 1840, List Gen. Birds, ed. 1, p. 12), Certhia famosa Linnaeus." (Rand in Peters 1967, XII, 222).
Var. Nectarina, Nectarinea, Noctarinia.
Synon. Rhyndace, Sclaterornis, Sovimanga.

famosa
L. famosus  renowned  < fama  fame, repute.

SUBSPECIES

Malachite Sunbird (cupreonitens)
SCI Name: Nectarinia famosa cupreonitens
cupreonitens
L. cupreus  coppery  < cyprium or cuprum  copper; nitens, nitentis  glittering, bright, shining  < nitere  to glitter.

Malachite Sunbird (famosa)
SCI Name: Nectarinia famosa famosa
famosa
L. famosus  renowned  < fama  fame, repute.