Western Wattlebird

SCI Name:  Anthochaera lunulata
Protonym:  Anthochaera lunulata Syn.BirdsAustr. pt4 App. p.5
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Meliphagidae / Anthochaera
Taxonomy Code:  litwat1
Type Locality:  Swan River, southern Western Australia.
Author:  Gould
Publish Year:  1838
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

ANTHOCHAERA
(Meliphagidae; Ϯ Little Wattlebird A. chrysoptera) Gr. ανθος anthos  flower, bloom; χαιρω khairō  to enjoy; "Genus. ANTHOCHÆRA *.   Rostrum elongatum, subattenuatum, subarcuatum; culmine ad basin subcarinato; mandibula superiori vix emarginata; naribus longitudinalibus, linearibus, membrana supra tectis, ad medium rostrum extendentibus ibique apertioribus.  Lingua ad apicem in setas plurimas divisa.  Alæ mediocres, rotundatæ; remige prima brevi secunda tertia parte longiori, tertia gradatim longiori, quarta quinta et sexta æqualibus longissimis; tertiæ ad septimam inclusam pogoniis externis in medio gradatim longioribus.  Cauda elongata, rotundata, vix gradata.  Pedes fortes, longitudine mediocres; acrotarsiis scutellatis, paratarsiis integris.   The strong, but at the same time lengthened and attenuated bill of this group, added to the size and powerful conformation of the species, distinguish it from the true Meliphaga. The lengthened and subgraduated tail also serves as a strong mark of distinction. The chief external characters of the group associate it with the Meliphagidæ, although upon a decided enlarged scale; and the tongue of one of the species, now before us, exhibits the filamentous formation peculiar to the Australian Honey-Eaters.  ...  1. CARUNCULATA.  ...  2. MELLIVORA.  ...  Le Goruck? Vieill. Ois. dor. ii. p. 126. pl. 88.   ...  The natives call it Coke'ran.  ...  3. PHRYGIA.*  ...*We take this opportunity of characterizing the following bird, which has been generally considered the young of Anth. carunculata, but which appears to us to be distinct.  ...  4. LEWINII.  ...  Memoriæ Domini JOANNIS GULIELMI LEWIN, peregrinatoris in Australia seduli sagacissimique   ...   * Aνθος flos, and χαιρω gaudeo" (Vigors & Horsfield 1827); "Anthochaera Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 15, p. 320. Type, by subsequent designation (Gadow, 1884, Cat. Birds Brit.Mus., 9, p. 262), Certhia mellivora Latham = Merops chrysopterus Latham." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 444).   
Var. Acanthochaera (Gr. ακανθα akantha  spine, thorn).   
Synon. Anellobia, Coleavis, Coleia, Colena, Dyottornis, Melichaera, Zanthomiza.

lunulata / lunulatus
L. lunulatus  crescent-shaped, lunulate  < lunula  little moon  < dim. luna  moon.
● ex “Plastron Noir” of Levaillant 1803, pl. 123 (syn. Apalis thoracica).
● “PSITTACUS (lunulatus) viridis; collo postice maculis lunaribus, nigris” (Scopoli 1786); ex “Petite Perruche à collier de l’Île de Luçon, 3ème espèce” of Sonnerat 1776 (Bolbopsittacus).
● ex “Lunulated Thrush” of Latham 1801 (Zoothera).