Sao Tome Sunbird

SCI Name:  Dreptes thomensis
Protonym:  Nectarinia thomensis J.Sci.Math.Phys.Nat.Lisboa(2), 1 p.143
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Nectariniidae / Dreptes
Taxonomy Code:  satsun1
Type Locality:  St. Miguel, St. Thome.
Author:  Bocage
Publish Year:  1889
IUCN Status:  Vulnerable

DEFINITIONS

DREPTES
(Nectariniidae; Ϯ Giant Sunbird D. thomensis) Gr. δρεπτης dreptēs  kisser  < δρεπτον drepton  kiss  < δρεπτω dreptō  to pluck; "Commonest methods of foraging are probing into flowers and gleaning and hover-gleaning undersides of leaves  ...  also feeds by hopping or creeping along branches and digging bill into bark, using it as a probe" (Fry et al. (eds.) 2000); "Herr Reichenow stellt hierauf zwei neue Gattungen auf: Gymnomyza mit dem Typ Leptornis aubryanus Verr. Desm. und Dreptes mit dem Typ Nectarina [sic] thomensis Boc." (Reichenow 1914; hasty diagnoses, written just as the world became engulfed in war and ushered in the tyranny of the machines); "Dreptes Reichenow, Journ. Orn. 1914, p. 488.  Type by original designation, Nectarinia thomensis Boc." (W. Sclater, 1930, Syst. Av. Aethiop., II, p. 707).

thome / thomensis
São Tomé or São Thomé, Gulf of Guinea (the island was sighted by Portuguese explorers on 21 December 1471, the feast day of St Thomas, the patron saint of Portugal).
● ?Erroneous TL. São Tomé (Estrilda).
● Erroneous TL. St Thomas; ex “Duc-laart” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Black-breasted Grebe” of Latham 1785 (syn. Podilymbus podiceps).
● Erroneous TL. St Thomas; ex “Grèbe de l’Isle St. Thomas” of Brisson 1760 (ex “Espèce de Plongeon” or “Mergus major leucophaeus” of Feuillée 1725) (syn. Podilymbus podiceps antillarum).