James Jobling
Well-known member
Tanagra tatao Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, I, p. 315. This name is now generally regarded as unidentifiable because of its ambiguous references (see Hellmayr 1936, Cat. Bds. Americas, Pt. IX, p. 82). The specific name is derived from "Avicula de Tatao" of Seba 1734 (?1735), Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio, I, p. 96, and plate LX, fig. 6, identifiable as Tangara punctata. Seba's bird was supposedly from Mexico, although its current distribution is the Guianas. I have assumed that "Tatao" refers to a place or area of Mexico, but it could be a substantive name, and I would welcome suggestions as to the origin of this specific name.