Collared Crow (1 Viewer)

[thyoloalethe]

I'm having a bit of trouble determining what the correct scientific name is for the Collared Crow.

Birdlife uses Corvus torquatus
Clements uses Corvus torquatus
Howard & Moore use Corvus pectoralis from the 3rd edition onwards
HBW uses Corvus pectoralis, saying that C. torquatus is precoccupied
IOC switched from Corvus pectoralis to Corvus torquatus starting with version 2.1
zoonomen uses Corvus torquatus

John Boyd uses Corvus torquatus on his Taxonomy in Flux site, and discusses this on his November 8, 2010 post. The claim is that Corvus torquatus Lesson 1831 is available for the Collared Crow if the Jackdaws are separated in the genus Coloeus, because the (usually considered invalid) subspecies torquatus of the Jackdaw would no longer be in the genus Corvus. This name has priority in Corvus over Lesson's name because it was proposed by Bechstein in 1791 (according to Avibase).

However, if Bechstein's torquatus was originally described in the genus Corvus (as seems likely, given its age), then Lesson's Corvus torquatus would be permanently unavailable because it would be a junior homonym to Bechstein's Corvus torquatus. But I haven't been able to track down the original combination - does anyone know if Bechstein's torquatus was actually described in Corvus?

Cheers
Liam

 

[Ukridge]

This reference: www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/43939 and this one: www.naturalis.nl/sites/naturalis.en/contents/i000827/snab044.pdf both indicate that Bechstein's description was indeed in Corvus, and hence Lesson's name is permanently unavailable.

 

[RaMa]

Actually I disagree. While I haven't seen Kleinschmidt (1940) yet, I consider Corvus monedula torquata Bechstein 1791 to be infrasubspecific (art. 45.6.1) and thus unavailable:

45.6. Determination of subspecific or infrasubspecific rank of names following a binomen. The rank denoted by a species-group name following a binomen is subspecific, except that
45.6.1. it is infrasubspecific if its author expressly gave it infrasubspecific rank, or if the content of the work unambiguously reveals that the name was proposed for an infrasubspecific entity (see also Article 45.6.4);

Bechstein (1791) described and named dozens of so-called "Abänderungen" (abberations), usually consisting of (fully or partly) albinistic, melanistic, luteistic or otherwise miscolored specimens and individual hybrids, including induced melanisms caused by feeding too much millet seeds. He even named cross-billed captive specimens which had lacked the opportunity to wedge their bills regularly.

For the Jackdaw he has:
- Corvus monedula torquata - with a white collar
- Corvus monedula candida - all white
- Corvus monedula nigra - pure black
- Corvus monedula crucifera - with crossed bill tips (see above)
- Corvus monedula varia - wings and tail white

Other named aberrations of Corvids:
- Corvus corone varius
- Corvus corone albus
- Corvus cornix candida
- Corvus cornix varia
- Corvus cornix nigra
- Corvus glandarius albus
- Corvus glandarius varius
- Corvus caryocatactes candidus
- Corvus pica candida
- Corvus pica varia
and so on. To me this is clear evidence that all these were intended for individual variants and thus not available. Hartert (1903-1910): 244, footnote already refused to list all those names for the same reason.

Consequently, Corvus torquatus Lesson 1831 is not preoccupied and valid.

Rainer

 

[thyoloalethe]

Actually I disagree. While I haven't seen Kleinschmidt (1940) yet, I consider Corvus monedula torquata Bechstein 1791 to be infrasubspecific (art. 45.6.1) and thus unavailable:

.....if the content of the work unambiguously reveals that the name was proposed for an infrasubspecific entity (see also Article 45.6.4)

Interesting! It looks as though Kleinschmidt (1940) and Eck (1984) (from Ukridge’s 2nd link, p. 102) would either disagree, or weren't aware of this. I wonder if they considered Hartert’s opinion or not.

 

[mb1848]

Dear RaMa I like your logic and argument ! Fischer in 1804? put Corvus monedula torquatus Bechstein in the synonomy of the Russian Jackdaw.

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZTAWAQAAIAAJ&dq="Corvus+monedula+torquata"&source=gbs_navlinks_s .

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/02/03/russian-jackdaws-in-britain .
Did Fischer think Bechstein name was infrasubspecific or a geographical race? Does it matter for your analysis, I think no it is the intent of the describer.

The monedula torquata (us) part of Bechstein’s name is from earlier writers, including Brisson.

Brisson has Le choucas a collier, monedula torquata.



Lesson 1831:
..
." Le CORBEAU A COLLIER; Corvus torquatus. Noir; un large collier gris sur le derrière du cou ; une ceinture blanche sur le thorax ; le ventre noir.
Habite la Nouvelle-Hollande.
Lesson's description shows that this is the species intended by him, notwithstanding that he gives Australia as the locality. Besides, Professor Schlegel states (I. c.) that the Leiden Museum received a specimen from the Paris Museum labelled C. torquatus.

Obviously a different bird a Raven not a Daw.
. I could not find Kleinschmidt 1940 Falco online.


Spalowsky, Joachim Johann Nepomuk in NATURGESCHICHTE DER VOGEL has a Corvus torquatus from 1791 also.