Short-tailed Babbler

SCI Name:  Pellorneum malaccense
Protonym:  B[rachypteryx]. malaccensis Systemat.Verz.Nat.Samml.Ges.Mus. 1 p.40
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Pellorneidae / Pellorneum
Taxonomy Code:  shtbab1
Type Locality:  Malacca.
Author:  Hartlaub
Publish Year:  1844
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

PELLORNEUM
(Pellorneidae; Ϯ Puff-throated Babbler P. ruficeps) Gr. πελλος pellos  dark-coloured, dusky; ορνεον orneon  bird  < ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "Genus, PELLORNEUM*.   ...   Bill moderate, straight, somewhat conic; the tip notched.  Gonys ascending.  Frontal feathers small, rigid, directed forward.  Rictus bristled.  Wings very short, much rounded.  Tail moderate, graduated.  Tarsus and middle toe of equal length; lateral toes much shorter, equal.  Anterior claws very small, and but slightly curved.  Hinder toe shorter than the middle.  Anterior scales scarcely divided.   Type.—Pellorneum ruficeps, above brown, beneath fulvous white, striped with brown; chin white immaculate; front and crown rufous.  Inhabits India. MUS. NOST.   OBS.—This genus represents, or rather passes into Phyllastrephus; thus connecting the Crateropodinæ and the Brachypodinæ. From the former it is distinguished by its more slender thrush-like feet, its small slightly curved claws, &c. The general appearance of the only species I have yet seen, and which is from India, is that of a small thrush, but resembling a Timalia.   ...   *Th. πελλος fuscus, et ορνεον avis." (Swainson 1831).
Var. Pelorneum, Pellornium.
Synon. Bessethera, Cinclidia, Drymocataphus, Scotocichla.

malacca / malaccense / malaccensis / malacense / malacensis
Malacca, Malaysia. Melaka or Malaka are Malay names for a type of tree abundant in the region.
● ex “Grimpereau de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (Anthreptes).
● ex “Crabier de Malac” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 911, “Crabier blanc et brun” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Malacca Heron” of Latham 1785 (syn. Ardeola speciosa).
● ex “Pic de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (subsp. Chrysophlegma miniaceum).
● ex “Petite Tourterelle de Quéda” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Malacca Turtle” of Latham 1783 (syn. Geopelia striata).
● Erroneous TL. China, Java and Malacca (= India); ex “Chinese Sparrow” of Albin 1738, “Gros-bec de Java” of Brisson 1760, and “White-breasted Indian Sparrow” of Edwards 1764 (Lonchura).
● ex “Brève de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (syn. Pitta brachyura).
● ex “Petit Paon de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (Polyplectron).
● ex “Perruche de Malac” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 887, “Grand perruche à longs brins” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Malacca Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Psittacula longicauda).
● ex “Petite Perruche de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782, and “Blue-rumped Parrakeet” of Latham 1787 (syn. Psittinus cyanurus).

SUBSPECIES

Short-tailed Babbler (malaccense)
SCI Name: Pellorneum malaccense malaccense
malacca / malaccense / malaccensis / malacense / malacensis
Malacca, Malaysia. Melaka or Malaka are Malay names for a type of tree abundant in the region.
● ex “Grimpereau de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (Anthreptes).
● ex “Crabier de Malac” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 911, “Crabier blanc et brun” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Malacca Heron” of Latham 1785 (syn. Ardeola speciosa).
● ex “Pic de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (subsp. Chrysophlegma miniaceum).
● ex “Petite Tourterelle de Quéda” of Sonnerat 1776, and “Malacca Turtle” of Latham 1783 (syn. Geopelia striata).
● Erroneous TL. China, Java and Malacca (= India); ex “Chinese Sparrow” of Albin 1738, “Gros-bec de Java” of Brisson 1760, and “White-breasted Indian Sparrow” of Edwards 1764 (Lonchura).
● ex “Brève de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (syn. Pitta brachyura).
● ex “Petit Paon de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782 (Polyplectron).
● ex “Perruche de Malac” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 887, “Grand perruche à longs brins” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Malacca Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Psittacula longicauda).
● ex “Petite Perruche de Malacca” of Sonnerat 1782, and “Blue-rumped Parrakeet” of Latham 1787 (syn. Psittinus cyanurus).

Short-tailed Babbler (saturatum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum malaccense saturatum
saturatum / saturatus
L. saturatus  richly coloured, darker coloured, intensely coloured  < satur, satura  rich, copious  < satis  enough.
● “In my description of this Cuckoo [Cuculus micropterus] ...I considered certain dark ash-coloured specimens to be merely the old birds of the species ...Mr Hodgson, however, thinks differently, having lately forwarded similar examples by the designation C. saturatus” (Blyth 1843) (Cuculus).

Short-tailed Babbler (poliogenys)
SCI Name: Pellorneum malaccense poliogenys
poliogene / poliogenis / poliogenys
Gr. πολιος polios  grey; γενυς genus, γενυος genuos  cheek, chin, jaw.

Short-tailed Babbler (feriatum)
SCI Name: Pellorneum malaccense feriatum
feriata / feriatum / feriatus
L. feriatus idle, keeping holiday < feriae holidays (e.g. happy; alluding to the chestnut crown and tawny underparts; "based on single specimen, has characters apparently exhibited by juveniles of this species." (del Hoyo & Collar 2016)) (syn. Trichastoma malaccense).