Violaceous Coucal

SCI Name:  Centropus violaceus
Protonym:  Centropus violaceus Voy.AstrolabeZool. 1 p.229
Taxonomy:  Cuculiformes / Cuculidae / Centropus
Taxonomy Code:  viocou1
Type Locality:  Carteret Harbor, New Ireland.
Author:  Quoy & Gaimard
Publish Year:  1830
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

CENTROPUS
(Cuculidae; Ϯ Senegal Coucal C. senegalensis) Gr. κεντρον kentron  spur, spike; πους pous, ποδος podos  foot; "This genus is distinguished from all other members of the family by having on the hallux a long nearly straight hind claw, very much like a Lark's." (Blanford 1895).  The coucals were formerly known as 'lark-heeled cuckoos.'  The substantive 'Coucal' is derived from French Coucou  cuckoo, and Alouette  lark; "GENUS 13. CENTROPUS (κεντρον stimulus, calcar  πους pes) (Spornfuß Germ.) Rostrum capiti brevius, incurvum, valde compressum, grypanium.  Tomia integerrima.  Nares plumis recumbentibus tectae.  Lingua . . .  Cauda gradata, elongata.  Pedes scansorii, congrui. Digiti externi internis longiores, antici fissi, posticorum externus versatilis? Ungues incurvi, posticus internus reliquis aliquantum longior, retiusculus, subulatus.  Species: Cuculus Aegyptius, Tolu LinGmel." (Illiger 1811); "Centropus Illiger, Prodromus, 1811, p. 205. Type, by subsequent designation, Cuculus aegyptius Gmelin. (G. R. Gray, List Gen. Bds., 1840, p. 56.)" (Peters, 1940, IV, p. 66). 
Var. Certropus, Certtopus, Centrophus. 
Synon. Anacentropus, Centrococcyx, Corydonyx, Grillia, Huhus, Megacentropus, Nesocentor, Nisus, Onixylus, Polophilus, Pyrrhocentor, Toulou.

violaceum / violaceus
L. violaceus  violet-coloured, violaceous  < viola  violet.
● ex “Calao Violet” of Levaillant 1801 (syn. Anthracoceros coronatus).
● ex “Perroquet de la Guadeloupe” of Du Tertre 1667-1671, “Psittacus aquarum Lupiarum insulae” of Brisson 1760, “Crick à tête violette” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Ruff-necked Parrot” of Latham 1781 (syn. Deroptyus accipitrinus).
● ex “Polytmus cayennensis violaceus” of Brisson 1760, “Colibri violet de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 600, fig. 2, “Colibri violet” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Violet Humming-bird” of Latham 1782 (syn. Eulampis jugularis).
● ex “Little Dusky Parrot” of Edwards 1764, “Perroquet varié de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 408, and “Papegai violet” of de Buffon 1770-1785 (syn. Pionus fuscus).
● ex “Cassique de la Louisiane” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 646 (syn. Quiscalus quiscula).
● ex “Lanius capite collo pectoreque e violaceo nigricantibus; digitis duobus anticis, totidemque posticis”” of Koelreuter 1765, “Couroucou à chaperon violet” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Violet-headed Curucui” of Latham 1782 (Trogon).
● ex “Violet Corvorant” of Pennant 1785, and “Violet Shag” of Latham 1785 (unident.).
● ex “Merle bleu de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1776 (unident.).