Spinifex Pigeon

SCI Name:  Geophaps plumifera
Protonym:  Geophaps plumifera BirdsAustr. pt7 p.[6] pl.69
Taxonomy:  Columbiformes / Columbidae / Geophaps
Taxonomy Code:  spipig2
Type Locality:  150 miles up the Victoria River, between Cape Hotham and Depuch Island.
Author:  Gould
Publish Year:  1842
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

GEOPHAPS
(Columbidae; Ϯ Squatter Pigeon G. scripta) Gr. γεω- geō-  ground-  <  γη gē  earth; φαψ phaps, φαβος phabos  pigeon; "[APPENDIX] 75.  ...  Phaps, near this genus add  GEOPHAPS, Gould (1842).  G. scripta (Temm.), Gould." (G. Gray 1842); "Mr. Gould next instituted a new genus among the Columbidæ, under the appellation of Genus GEOPHAPS  ...  Rostrum perbreve et robustum. Oculi cute denudata circumdati. Alæ perbreves et rotundatæ, apicibus latis. Tarsi mediocres digitis longiores. Digitus internus paululum cæteris longior." (Gould 1842); "Geophaps "Gould" G. R. Gray, List Gen. Bds., ed. 2, App., 1 Mar., 1842, p. 12.¹  Type, by original designation, G. scripta (Temm.) = Columba scripta Temminck.  ...   ¹ The name was first published by Gould in Bds. Austr., pt. 7, 1 June, 1842." (Peters, 1937, III, p. 119).
Synon. Lophophaps, Terraphaps.

plumifer / plumifera / plumiferus
L. plumifer  bearing soft feathers or plumes  < pluma  plume; -ferus
-bearing  < ferre  to bear.

SUBSPECIES

Spinifex Pigeon (Rufous-bellied)
SCI Name: Geophaps plumifera ferruginea
ferruginea
L. ferrugineus  rusty-coloured, rusty, ferruginous  < ferrugo, ferruginis  iron rust  < ferrum  iron.
● ex “Anas rutila” of Linnaeus 1746, and “Ferruginous Duck” of Pennant, 1776, and Latham 1785 (syn. Aythya nyroca).
● ex “Gilt-throat Warbler” of Latham 1783 (?syn. Ficedula albicilla).
● ex “Ferrugineous-bellied Tody” of Latham 1781 (Hirundinea).
● ex “Little Sparrow” of Edwards, 1741, and “Ferruginous Finch” of Pennant 1785 (syn. Passerella iliaca).
● ex Tanagra capensis Sparrman, 1787 (syn. Turnagra capensis).

Spinifex Pigeon (White-bellied)
SCI Name: Geophaps plumifera plumifera/leucogaster
GEOPHAPS
(Columbidae; Ϯ Squatter Pigeon G. scripta) Gr. γεω- geō-  ground-  <  γη gē  earth; φαψ phaps, φαβος phabos  pigeon; "[APPENDIX] 75.  ...  Phaps, near this genus add  GEOPHAPS, Gould (1842).  G. scripta (Temm.), Gould." (G. Gray 1842); "Mr. Gould next instituted a new genus among the Columbidæ, under the appellation of Genus GEOPHAPS  ...  Rostrum perbreve et robustum. Oculi cute denudata circumdati. Alæ perbreves et rotundatæ, apicibus latis. Tarsi mediocres digitis longiores. Digitus internus paululum cæteris longior." (Gould 1842); "Geophaps "Gould" G. R. Gray, List Gen. Bds., ed. 2, App., 1 Mar., 1842, p. 12.¹  Type, by original designation, G. scripta (Temm.) = Columba scripta Temminck.  ...   ¹ The name was first published by Gould in Bds. Austr., pt. 7, 1 June, 1842." (Peters, 1937, III, p. 119).
Synon. Lophophaps, Terraphaps.