White-crowned Shrike

SCI Name:  Eurocephalus anguitimens
Protonym:  Eurocephalus anguitimens Rep.Exped.Centr.Afr. p.52
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Laniidae / Eurocephalus
Taxonomy Code:  whcshr1
Type Locality:  'between Latakoo and the Tropic.
Author:  Smith, A
Publish Year:  1836
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

EUROCEPHALUS
(Laniidae; Ϯ Southern White-crowned Shrike E. anguitimens) Gr. ευρυς eurus  broad; -κεφαλος -kephalos  -headed  < κεφαλη kephalē   head; "Fam. CORVIDÆ, Sw.   Genus EUROCEPHALUS.   Bill short, slightly arched, broad at base, compressed towards point, the upper mandible slightly notched; nostrils basal and partly covered by the incumbent feathers; rictus slightly bristled; wings moderate pointed, third quill longest; tail slightly rounded; tarsi short and like the acrotarsia divided; outer toe longer than the inner one; claws slightly curved.   Eurocephalus anguitimens.   ...   Inhabits the country between Latakoo and the Tropic.  When an opportunity occurs of comparing this bird with the various forms of the Corvidæ, its true place may be found in another family, and the resemblance, particularly as regards its habits, may be those of analogy and not affinity." (A. Smith 1836); "Eurocephalus Smith, 1836, Rep. Exp. Centr. Afr., App., p. 52. Type, by monotypy, E. anguitimens Smith." (Rand in Peters, 1960, IX, p. 309). Formerly these birds were treated as members of the Prionopidae (see Prionops), but modern work suggests that the Southern and Northern White-crowned Shrikes are primitive forms that share a common ancestor with the Corvidae (see Platylophus).   
Var. Eurycephalus.   
Synon. Chaetoblemma.

anguitimens
L. anguitenens, anguitenentis  serpent-holding  < anguis  snake; tenere  to hold (Eurocephalus).

SUBSPECIES

White-crowned Shrike (anguitimens)
SCI Name: Eurocephalus anguitimens anguitimens
anguitimens
L. anguitenens, anguitenentis  serpent-holding  < anguis  snake; tenere  to hold (Eurocephalus).

White-crowned Shrike (niveus)
SCI Name: Eurocephalus anguitimens niveus
niveus
L. niveus  snow-white, snowy  < nix, nivis  snow.