Background
Clements et al. (2017) and Martinez et al. (2018) recognize two poorly defined races. Mathews (2011) described A. p. halli stating it "differs in its lighter coloration above and less blue on the under-side of the flipper, from the typical form, while the feathers of the inside on the tarsus are white; in the typical subspecies the feathers of the tarsus are blue all round, forming a collar." Subsequent analyses by Murphy (1936), Stonehouse (1960) and others show that this race cannot be upheld and the King Penguin is considered monotypic by Gill, F & D Donsker (2018); Dickinson, EC (2014); Blake (1977); and Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins (1990). However A. p. halli was accepted by Peters (1931). Martinez et al. (2018) state that it averages smaller than nominate, a difference not discussed or noted in the original description. They make no note of the diagnostic features described by Matthews.
Questions
Where did HBW got the idea that A. p. halli differs in size? Even if it does differ in size, can a named subspecies be valid based solely on characters not mentioned in the original description?
References
Blake, E. R. 1977. Manual of neotropical birds. Volume 1. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.
Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Dickinson, EC, ed. 2014. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 4th ed. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press
Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). 2018. IOC World Bird List (v8.1). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.8.1. Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins (eds) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne
Martínez, I., Jutglar, F. & Garcia, E.F.J. (2018). King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52456 on 27 May 2018).
Mathews G. M. 1911. The birds of Australia. London, UK: Witherby
Murphy, R.C. (1936) Oceanic Birds of South America. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.
Peters, J. L. (1931) Checklist of Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Harvard, Univ. Press.
Stonehouse, B (1960). "The King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus of South Georgia I. Breeding behaviour and development". Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey Scientific Report. 23: 1–81.
Clements et al. (2017) and Martinez et al. (2018) recognize two poorly defined races. Mathews (2011) described A. p. halli stating it "differs in its lighter coloration above and less blue on the under-side of the flipper, from the typical form, while the feathers of the inside on the tarsus are white; in the typical subspecies the feathers of the tarsus are blue all round, forming a collar." Subsequent analyses by Murphy (1936), Stonehouse (1960) and others show that this race cannot be upheld and the King Penguin is considered monotypic by Gill, F & D Donsker (2018); Dickinson, EC (2014); Blake (1977); and Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins (1990). However A. p. halli was accepted by Peters (1931). Martinez et al. (2018) state that it averages smaller than nominate, a difference not discussed or noted in the original description. They make no note of the diagnostic features described by Matthews.
Questions
Where did HBW got the idea that A. p. halli differs in size? Even if it does differ in size, can a named subspecies be valid based solely on characters not mentioned in the original description?
References
Blake, E. R. 1977. Manual of neotropical birds. Volume 1. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.
Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Dickinson, EC, ed. 2014. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 4th ed. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press
Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). 2018. IOC World Bird List (v8.1). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.8.1. Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins (eds) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne
Martínez, I., Jutglar, F. & Garcia, E.F.J. (2018). King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52456 on 27 May 2018).
Mathews G. M. 1911. The birds of Australia. London, UK: Witherby
Murphy, R.C. (1936) Oceanic Birds of South America. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.
Peters, J. L. (1931) Checklist of Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Harvard, Univ. Press.
Stonehouse, B (1960). "The King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus of South Georgia I. Breeding behaviour and development". Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey Scientific Report. 23: 1–81.
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