Mottled Wood-Owl

SCI Name:  Strix ocellata
Protonym:  Syrnium ocellatum Rev.Zool. 2 p.289
Taxonomy:  Strigiformes / Strigidae / Strix
Taxonomy Code:  mowowl1
Type Locality:  Pondicherry.
Author:  Lesson
Publish Year:  1839
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

STRIX
(Strigidae; Ϯ Tawny Owl S. aluco) L. strix, strigis  owl, screech-owl believed to suck the blood of infants  < Gr. στριξ strix, στριγος strigos  owl; "42. STRIX.  Rostrum aduncum (absque cera) basi pennis setaceis tectum.  Caput grande auribus oculisque magnis.  Lingua bifida.  ... Strix differt a Falcone ut Phalæna a Papilione; altera enim diurna, alter nocturnus est. Noctu prædantur aviculis, muribus; die cæcutiunt; pedes lanati ne frigescant; aures amplæ ut percipiant; die aviculis opprobrio expositæ." (Linnaeus 1758); “The type of the genus Strix has by most English authors been considered to be S. flammea [= Tyto alba] of the 12^th edition of Linnaeus. This species, however, is not found in the 10^th edition, so that it is necessary to find a type among the species which are included in that edition. An examination of Linnaeus’ descriptions and synonomy shows that the Strix of the older authors is Strix stridula = S. aluco of Linnaeus, viz. the Tawny Owl, so that on the principle of Linnean tautonomy this will be the type” (BOU 1915); "Strix Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, 1758, p. 92. Type, by tautonymy, Strix stridula Linné (Strix, prebinomial specific name in synonymy) = Strix aluco Linné." (Peters 1940, IV, 156).  This is the third diagnosed genus in avian taxonomy. Linnaeus's Strix comprised eleven  species (S. Bubo, S. scandiaca, S. Asio, S. Otus, S. Scops, S. Aluco, S. funerea, S. Nyctea, S. stridula, S. Ulula, S. passerina). The hooting cries of the Tawny Owl are commemorated, sometimes fancifully, in literature and song.
Var. Stryx.
Synon. Aluco, Bulaca, Macabra, Meseidus, Myrtha, Nyctimene, Ptynx, Scotiaptex, Syrnium, Tacitathena, Ulula.
● (syn. Tyto Ϯ Common Barn Owl T. alba) "17. STRIX.  Bec alongé, presque droit à la base; narines longitudinales, grandes; oreilles externe grandes et operculées: ongle intermédiaire crénelé sur son bord interne. . . .aigrettes nulles.   ...   GENRE XVII,  STRIX.  ...  ESPÈCE.  STRIX flammea.  L'Effraie." (de Savigny 1809): based on "Strix" of many ancient authors, "Ulula" and "Flammea" of Gessner 1555, "Aluco minor" of Willughby 1676 and Ray 1713, Strix flammea Linnaeus, 1758, "Aluco" of Brisson 1760, and Strix flammea Gmelin, 1788; "Strix Savigny Descr. Égypte Hist. Nat. vol. i. pp. 69, 113, 1809. Type (by monotypy): Strix flammea auct. = Strix alba Scopoli.  Not Strix Linné, Syst. Nat. 10th ed. p. 92, Jan. 1st, 1758." (Mathews 1927, 278).

ocellata / ocellatum / ocellatus
L. ocellatus  ocellated, marked with eyelets < ocellus  eyelet  < dim. oculus  eye.
● ex “Capocier” or “Capolier” of Levaillant 1801-1804, pl. 130, fig. 1 (syn. Prinia maculosa).
● ex “Caille de l’Isle de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776 (Turnix).

SUBSPECIES

Mottled Wood-Owl (grisescens)
SCI Name: Strix ocellata grisescens
grisescens
Mod. L. griscescens, griscescentis  greyish, somewhat grey  < Med. L. griseum  grey.

Mottled Wood-Owl (grandis)
SCI Name: Strix ocellata grandis
grandis
L. grandis  large.
● ex “Lori de la Nouvelle Guinée” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 683, “Purpur-roode Lori” of Vosmaer 1769, “Grand Lori” of de Buffon 17770-1783, and “Grand Lory” of Latham 1781 (syn. Eclectus roratus).
● ex “Great Jacamar” of Latham 1782 (syn. Jacamerops aurea).
● ex “Ibijau” or “American Goatsucker” of Ray 1713, “Grand Tette-chèvre tacheté du Brésil” of Brisson 1760, “Grand Crapaud volant de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 325, “Grand Ibijau” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Grand Goatsucker” of Latham 1783 (Nyctibius).
● ex “Grand Barbu de la Chine” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 871, “Grand Barbu” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Grand Barbet” of Latham 1783 (syn. Psilopogon virens).

Mottled Wood-Owl (ocellata)
SCI Name: Strix ocellata ocellata
ocellata / ocellatum / ocellatus
L. ocellatus  ocellated, marked with eyelets < ocellus  eyelet  < dim. oculus  eye.
● ex “Capocier” or “Capolier” of Levaillant 1801-1804, pl. 130, fig. 1 (syn. Prinia maculosa).
● ex “Caille de l’Isle de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776 (Turnix).