Sparkling Violetear ( Colibri coruscans )

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Colibri coruscans, Sparkling Violet ear
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
Phylum Chordata – chordates
Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
Class Aves – Birds
Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
Subfamily Trochilinae
Genus Colibri Spix, 1824 – Violet-ears
Species Colibri coruscans (Gould, 1846) – Sparkling Violetear
Direct Children:
Subspecies Colibri coruscans coruscans (Gould, 1846)
Subspecies Colibri coruscans germanus (Salvin & Godman, 1884)
Subspecies Colibri coruscans rostratus, W. H. Phelps & W. H. Phelps Jr, 1952

Extract from Monograph of the Trochilidae, by J. Gould ©1887 :

PETASOPHORA GERMANA, Salvin & Godman.

Guiana Violet-ear.

Trochilus anais, Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian. iii. p. 707 (1848).
Petasophora germana, Salvin & Godman, Ibis, 1884, p. 451.—Salvin, Ibis, 1885, p. 434.

Mr. Whitely has met with this species only on Roraima in British Guiana. It is described by Messrs, Salvin and Godman as being allied to P. anais and of the same size, but with the throat much more blue, the whole of the lower throat more blue, and the forehead suffused with blue. The authors observe respecting it:—“Mr. Whitely obtained a pair of this species in the neighbourhood of Roraima, the male at an elevation of 5000 feet, the female at 6000 feet. Though the difference between the present bird and P. anais of the Andes is not great, we feel justified in separating them, the ranges of the two being doubtless broken by the low-lying lands of the Orinoco valley. It is no doubt, this species which Schomburgk mentions in his list of Guiana birds (‘Reise in Guiana,’ iii. p. 707).”
The Plate represents an adult male in two positions.

[R. B. S.]
Colibri coruscans, Sparkling Violet ear
Colibri coruscans, Sparkling Violet ear

References and Further Reading

  • Colibri coruscans, (Gould, 1846), Taxonomic Serial No.: 555073
  • j.gould.tamagawa.jp
  • Sparkling Violetears
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, by J. Gould ©1887
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    Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer ( Chalybura urochrysia )

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    Chalybura urochrysia, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Chalybura Reichenbach, 1854
    Species Chalybura urochrysia (Gould, 1861) – Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
    Direct Children:
    Subspecies Chalybura urochrysia intermedia Hartert & C. Hartert, 1894
    Subspecies Chalybura urochrysia isaurae (Gould, 1861)
    Subspecies Chalybura urochrysia melanorrhoa Salvin, 1865
    Subspecies Chalybura urochrysia urochrysia (Gould, 1861)
    Chalybura urochrysia, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

    Extract from Monograph of the Trochilidae, by J. Gould ©1887

    HYPUROPTILA MELANORRHOA, Gould.

    Black-vented Plumeleteer.

    Chalybura melanorrhoa, Salvin, P.Z.S. 1864, p. 585.—Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 82. —Elliot, Synopsis Trochil. p. 47.
    Chalybura carmioli, Lawr. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1865, p. 39.
    Lampornis melanorrhoa, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, vol. i, p. 174.
    Polytmus melanorrhous, Gray, Hand-1. B. vol. i. p. 126.

    The first discoverer of this species was the well-known collector Enrique Arcé, who procured it at Tucurrique in Costa Rica; and shortly after, Mr. Lawrence found specimens in the Smithsonian Institution, collected by Mr. Carmiol at Angostura, in Costa Rica, which he described as Chalybura carmioli.
    Though nearly allied to C. isauræ, it is easily distinguished by the black vent, which is white in the first-named bird; and there can be no doubt that the two species are quite distinct. Mr. Salvin remarks that his C. melanorrhoa, with C. isauræ, forms a somewhat abnormal section of the genus; “but the differences, as seen from our present materials, are hardly of sufficient importance to warrant a generic separation. They may be briefly stated as follows: —The plumage in the Chalybura is generally more brilliant; the uropygium is nearly the same colour as the back; in the Costa-Rica bird it is clearly defined. The plumed feathers of the crissum, in the former, are much more developed.”
    This species, as at present known, is only found in Central America, where it occurs in Costa Rica and Veragua.
    The diagnosis given by Mr. Elliot for this species is as follows:—
    Male. Head and upper parts dark grass-green; rump purplish bronze; wings purplish brown; under-parts very dark shining grass-green; abdomen dark brown glossed with green; under tail-coverts black; tail dark bronzy purple; maxilla black; mandible flesh-colour. Total length 4 3/4 inches, wing 2 7/8, tail 1 7/8, culmen 7/8.”
    The principal figures in the Plate represent two males, of the size of life.

    Chalybura urochrysia, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

    References and Further Reading

  • j.gould.tamagawa.jp
  • Chalybura urochrysia, (Gould, 1861), Taxonomic Serial No.: 555185
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, by J. Gould ©1887
  • Read More »

    Gray-tailed Mountain-gem ( Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda )

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    Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Lampornis Swainson, 1827 – Blue-throated Hummingbirds
    Species Lampornis castaneoventris (Gould, 1851)
    Subspecies Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda (Lawrence, 1867)
    Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda

    An extract from Monograph of the Trochilidae, by J. Gould ©1887

    OREOPYRA CINEREICAUDA, Lawrence.

    Grey-tailed Hummingbird.

    Oreopyra cinereicauda, Lawrence, Ann. Lyc. New York, viii. p. 485 (1867), ix. p. 125 (1868).— Sclater & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr, p. 80 (1873).—Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 34 (1878).—Eudes-Deslongchamps, Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 243 (1880).
    Oreopyra castaneiventris, Lawrence, Ann. Lye. New York, ix. p. 124 (1868, part.).

    Mr. Elliot states that this species is closely allied to 0. leucaspis, but is distinguished by its ashy white tail; the under tail-coverts are also paler and the bill is longer (culmen 7/8 inch).
    The female resembles that of 0. leucaspis, but has the bill longer than in that species.
    It appears to be confined to Costa Rica.
    The figures in the Plate represent two males and a female of the size of life.

    [R. B. S.]

    Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda

    Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda

    References and Further Reading

  • Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda, (Lawrence, 1867), Taxonomic Serial No.: 693726
  • j.gould.tamagawa.jp
  • Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World By Department of Genetics University of Georgia Eugene M. McCarthy Post Doctoral Researcher, Athens
  • Gray-tailed Mountain-gem (Lampornis cinereicauda) (Lawrence, 1867)
  • Grey-tailed Mountain-gem (female) / Variable Mountain Gem
  • Read More »

    Lampornis calolaemus ( Purple-throated Mountaingem )

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    Lampornis calolaemus
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Lampornis Swainson, 1827 – Blue-throated Hummingbirds
    Species Lampornis calolaemus (Salvin, 1865) – Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Purple-throated Mountaingem
    Direct Children:
    Subspecies Lampornis calolaemus calolaemus (Salvin, 1865)
    Subspecies Lampornis calolaemus homogenes Wetmore, 1967
    Subspecies Lampornis calolaemus pectoralis (Salvin, 1891)
    Lampornis calolaemus

    Extract from Monograph of the Trochilidae by J. Gould ©1887 :

    OREOPYRA CALOLÆ MA, Salvin.

    Purple-throated Humming-bird.

    Oreopyra calolæma, Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 584. — Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 80 (1872).— Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 33 (1878). — Eudes-Deslongchamps, Ann. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 239 (1880).
    Oreopyra venusta, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 484.

    THIS Humming-bird is easily recognizable from the other species of Oreopyra by its metallic purple throat, the other two species having white throats.
    It was originally described by Mr. Salvin from specimens procured by Enrique Arcé on the Volcan de Cartago in Costa Rica, and it has since been obtained in the State of Panama.
    The following is a translation of Mr. Salvin's original description : —
    Back greenish; head with the breast bluish green, very brilliant, the latter being more distinctly green; entire throat and cbin glittering violet-red; ear-coverts and sides of nape black; a long postocular streak of white, extending as far as the nape; belly dull ashy, slightly washed with green; vent uniform, the feathers margined with white; wings purplish black, the wing-coverts green; tail steel-blue. Total length 4 inches, wing 2·6, tail 1·4, longest tail-feathers 1·5, bill from gape 1.
    Two males and a female, of the natural size, are depicted in the Plate, drawn from typical specimens lent to us by Messrs. Salvin and Godman.

    [R. B. S.]

    Lampornis calolaemus
    Lampornis calolaemus

    References and Further Reading

  • J. Gould (Japanese)
  • Lampornis calolaemus, (Salvin, 1865), Taxonomic Serial No.: 693163
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould ©1887
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    Lampornis hemileucus, ( White Bellied Mountain Gem )

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    Lampornis hemileucus, White Bellied Mountain Gem
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Lampornis Swainson, 1827 – Blue-throated Hummingbirds
    Species Lampornis hemileucus (Salvin, 1865) – White-bellied Mountain-gem, White-bellied Mountaingem
    Lampornis hemileucus, White Bellied Mountain Gem
    Lampornis hemileucus, White Bellied Mountain Gem

    From Monograph of the Trochilidae by J. Gould, ©1887 :

    CŒLIGENA HEMILEUCA.

    White-bellied Cacique.

    Oreopyra hemileuca, Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 584.
    Cœligena hemileuca, Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 31 (1878).

    This bird was originally described by Mr. Salvin as an Oreopyra, but he now considers that it might be more correctly placed in the genus Delattria.
    This species has the under surface of the body white like C. viridipallens, but is easily distinguished from that bird by its amethyst-coloured throat. It has at present only been found in Costa Rica, where it replaces C. viridipallens of Guatemala.
    The following is a translation of Mr. Salvin's description :—
    “ Back, sides, and lesser wing-coverts green; crown, sides of head, and chin brilliant glittering green; a long post-ocular streak of white extending as far as the nape, the latter blackish green; throat amethyst, the breast and the abdomen entirely white, the vent rather more ashy; wings dull purplish black; tail ashy green, the two centre feathers green, the others with a subterminal band of bronzy green, the tips themselves whitish; bill black; feet dusky. Adult female with the head and the throat plain, the terminal spot of the outer tail-feathers larger in size.
    “ Total length 4 inches, wing 2·6, tail 1·45, long tail-feathers 1·55, bill from gape 0·95.”
    We have represented in the Plate two males and a female of the natural size.

    [R. B. S.]

    Lampornis hemileucus, White Bellied Mountain Gem

    References and Further Reading

  • j-gould.tamagawa.jp
  • Lampornis hemileucus, (Salvin, 1865), Taxonomic Serial No.: 555190
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould ©1887
  • Read More »

    Taphrospilus hypostictus ( Many-spotted Hummingbird )

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    Aphantochroa
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Aphantochroa Gould, 1853
    Aphantochroa

    From Monograph of the Trochilidae by J. Gould, ©1887:

    APHANTOCHROA HYPOSTICTA, Gould.

    Spotted-breasted Humming-bird.

    Aphantochroa hyposticta, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 124.— Sclater & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 80 (1873). —Whitely, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1873, p. 189.—Taczanowski, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1874, p. 545.—Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 29 (1878).— Sclater & Salv. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 627.—Eudes-Deslongchamps, Annuaire Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Caen i. p. 164 (1880).
    Aphantochroa hypostictus, Mulsant, Hist. Nat. Oiseaux-Mouches, iv. p. 151 (1876).
    Polytmus hypostictus, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, i. p. 125, no. 1571 (1879).

    Some years ago I received specimens of the present bird from Quito, but I have recently considered that they were collected near the waters of the Upper Napo. The species differs from A. cirrhochloris in its spotted breast, in its shorter tail, and its rather more lengthened and curved bill.
    It has also been obtained by Mr. Whitely at San Antonio in Eastern Peru, by Jelski at Soriano in Northern Peru, and by Buckley at Nairapi in Bolivia, showing that it has a wide range through the eastern slopes of the Andes.
    I extract the following description from my original paper : —
    “ All the upper surface, wing-and tail-coverts deep green; wings purplish brown; tail dull purplish green, deepening into blackish brown at the tip, the two outer feathers on each side very slightly fringed with white at the tip; feathers of the throat, breast, and centre of the abdomen dull white at the base, with a spot of dull green near the tip, giving those parts a spotted appearance; remainder of the under surface dull green; under tail-coverts dull green at the base, deepening into black near the end, and fringed with grey; tarsi and thighs rather thickly clothed with white feathers; bill black, except at the base of the under mandible, which appears to have been flesh-colour. Total length 4 1/2 inches, bill 1 3/16, wing 2 3/4, tail 1 7/8.”

    The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions.

    Aphantochroa

    Verification

    “ On the second name: without tackling the full sorting out of the matter it is my guess that the name
    Aphantochroa hypostictais held by Peters V:61 as Talaphorus hypostictus(Gould) 1862.
    This is at least a beginning to sleuthing out what the current status of the name is (it clearly is held to be a synonym of something else).
    I hope that helps.
    Alan
    (A further guess would be that Vieillot's original combination may well have been Trochilus cirrochloris) -- I just checked this... it WAS.

    Alan P. Peterson, M.D.

    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Taphrospilus Simon, 1910
    Species Taphrospilus hypostictus (Gould, 1862) – Many-spotted Hummingbird

    References and Further Reading

  • Aphantochroa, Gould, 1853, Taxonomic Serial No.: 553700
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould ©1887
  • j-gould.tamagawa.jp
  • Read More »

    Santa Marta Sabrewing ( Campylopterus phainopeplus )

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    Campylopterus phainopeplus
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Campylopterus Swainson, 1827
    Species Campylopterus phainopeplus Salvin & Godman, 1879 – Santa Marta Sabrewing
    Santa Marta Sabrewings

    From Monograph of the Trochilidae by J. Gould, 1887:

    CAMPYLOPTERUS PHAINOPEPLUS, S & G.

    Simons's Sabre-wing.

    Campylopterus phainopeplus, Salvin & Godman, Ibis, 1879, p. 202.—Iid. Ibis, 1880, p. 171, pl. iv, fig. 1.

    This beautiful Humming-bird was discovered by Mr. F. Simons, in tbe Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, in 1879, and was met with by him at altitudes varying between 4000 and 15,000 feet above the sea-level. It has been described by Messrs. Salvin and Godman, who state that it is allied to Campylopterus villavicencii, but presenting many points of distinction — the colour of the head not being golden green, the body being much more shining green, the middle tail-feathers steel-blue instead of green, &c.
    The following account of the first capture of the species was contributed by Mr. Simons :—
    “ During an eight months' sojourn in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta I had frequent opportunities of observing this interesting and brilliant Humming-bird, which I believe is migratory, spending the months of February, March, April, and May in the banana plantations of the Lower Nevada, from 4000 to 6000 feet above the sea-level. From June to October I found it in the more elevated regions up to nearly the snow-line, or 15,000 feet above the sea-level. While exploring a mountain-gorge near Atanques (4000 feet) I obtained my first specimen, in March. It was resting on a bent twig in the shade of a banana-leaf, and appeared very tame, allowing me to retire some distance before firing. The species was unknown to most of the inhabitants of Atanques, and excited much admiration from its beauty. A few days afterwards I had the pleasure of meeting with it again among the banana-groves of San Jose. These plantations of the Indians are very extensive along the banks of the Guatapuri, at an elevation of 6000 feet, and are the highest banana-cultivation in the Nevada. This Humming-bird is pretty common here, but solitary; and I seldom saw more than three or, at the most, four in an afternoon. It betrays its presence, not only by the well-known bur-rr of the wings, but also by a sharp double note uttered as it flits from flower to flower. Alighting suddenly on a branch in the shade, it will remain minute after minute without the slightest movement. On these occasions I used to watch them carefully, but never could see them fly away, they disappeared as they came, like phantoms.
    “ Visiting San Sebastian in June, I was surprised to find the same little beauty, identical in plumage, but with totally different habits. Instead of shunning the sun, as among the bananas, it establishes itself on the topmost twig of some dead branch or scantily clothed tree, and passes the day filling the air with its loud plaintive note in answer to its mate. Every now and then, as a sort of exercise, it would shoot up into the air like a rocket, sound a very pretty twit-twit turn a few somersaults, and descend gracefully witli tail-feathers spread out like a fan. These aerial movements are excessively beautiful, and always resorted to, even if the bird is disturbed. In this latter case it does not return to its accustomed perch, but seeks another tree close by, where it sings on merrily till all danger is past; it always, however, returns to its old haunt. I watched one for a fortnight, and it never forsook its adopted perch. Another I fired at four times successively without effect; in spite of this it always returned to the same tree. They are very wary and difficult to shoot; and I have spent days dodging them backwards and forwards without getting near enough for a shot, June and July are the flowering months in the elevated regions. This may attract them; for I have met with them in all parts of the Nevada, especially in a valley at an elevation of 11,000 feet, where they were abundant, but so shy that there was no approaching them within a hundred yards. On crossing to the northern flank, I found them as low down as San Miguel, 6000 feet. At San Antonio, 3450 feet, not ten miles distant, they were unknown.
    “ On previous visits to San Sebastian in February and March, this species was not there; but the Indians told me that after the first rains a very beautiful ‘Chupa-flor’ puts in an appearance, without, however, being very common. Passing a couple of days in San Jose in August, I found they had disappeared.
    “ Atanques, a small Indian village of 1000 inhabitants, the capital of the Territory of Nevada, lies in the mountains between the rivers Guatapuri and Badillo, about four miles (as the crow flies) N.E. of Valle Dupar.
    “ The first rains begin in April; May is very wet, June to September showery. The second rains begin in September; October is the worst month; and November is sometimes wet.”
    The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size, the figures having been drawn from the typical specimens lent to us by Messrs. Salvin and Godman.
    [R. B. S.]

    Santa Marta Sabrewings

    References and Further Reading

  • Campylopterus phainopeplus Salvin & Godman, 1879, Taxonomic Serial No.: 555067
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould ©1887
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    Western Swallow-tail Hummingbird ( Eupetomena macroura hirundo )

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    Eupetomena macroura hirundo, Western Swallow-tail Hummingbird
    Zoological series, Volume 13, Part 2, Issue 1
    I'm not the biggest expert on South American hummingbirds, but everywhere I've looked Gould's Western Swallow-tail is now considered a subspecies of Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, so it is now Eupetomena macroura hirundo.”

    Rob Fergus
    Bird-B-Gone Ornithologist

    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Eupetomena Gould, 1853
    Species Eupetomena macroura (Gmelin, 1788) – Swallow-tailed Hummingbird
    Subspecies Eupetomena macroura hirundo Gould, 1875
    Eupetomena macroura hirundo, Gould, 1875, Taxonomic Serial No.: 693499

     

    Eupetomena macroura
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata –vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Eupetomena Gould, 1853
    Species Eupetomena macroura (Gmelin, 1788) – Swallow-tailed Hummingbird
    Direct Children:
    Subspecies Eupetomena macroura boliviana Zimmer, 1950
    Subspecies Eupetomena macroura cyanoviridis Grantsau, 1988
    Subspecies Eupetomena macroura hirundo Gould, 1875
    Subspecies Eupetomena macroura macroura (Gmelin, 1788)
    Subspecies Eupetomena macroura simoni Hellmayr, 1929
    Eupetomena macroura

    From Monograph of the Trochilidae, Gould

    EUPETOMENA HIRUNDO, Gould.

    Western Swallow-tail.

    Eupetomena hirundo, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) xvi. p. 370 (1875).— Sclater & Salv. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 18. — Elliot, Synopsis of the Humming-Birds, p. 22 (1878). — Eudes-Deslongchamps, Annuaire Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Caen, i. p. 143 (1881).

    I WAS indebted to Mr. Henry Whitely for the opportunity of describing, through the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ this fine species of Humming-bird, which is very similar to the Eupetomena macroura, and is the western representative of that bird on the great continent of South America.
    The present bird differs from E. macroura by having a shorter tail, the feathers of which are broader and less rigid; the wing, on the other hand, is larger and longer. In colour, while E. macroura is always blue on the head and breast, the new species is distinguished by these parts being washed with green.
    Mr. Whitely found numbers of this bird flying over the open plains in pursuit of insects. He says that they "rarely approach a flower, but appear to take their food hawking about in the air in the manner of Swallows— in fact, at first sight might be easily mistaken for those birds." He procured the species at Huiro, in the Valley of Santa Ana, Peru, at an elevation of 4800 feet.
    Head and throat deep blue, with a wash of green on the crown; body both above and beneath green; wings, tail, and under-coverts steel-bluish black; bill jet-black.
    The female is similarly coloured to the male; but the outer shaft of the wing is not enlarged as in the male, where the stem of this feather is dilated as in the genus Campylopterus. Total length 6 1/2 inches, bill 3/4, wing 3 1/8, tail 3 1/2.
    In the Plate I have given representations of a male in two different positions, drawn from the type specimen in my cabinet.

    Swallow Tailed Hummingbird

    References and Further Reading

  • Eupetomena macroura,(Gmelin, 1788), Taxonomic Serial No.: 555069
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould
  • Publication: Zoological series, Volume 13, Part 2, Issue 1
  • Verification

    "...hummingbird systematics/nomenclature is a very difficult, problematic, and it seems continually changing area, where there remains not complete agreement on what is best.
    Regarding your name: Eupetomena macroura hirundo
    My website -- which largely forms the basis for much of the ITIS data -- though differences do and will always exist) shows that Gould first proposed this name in 1875
    1875 Ann.Mag.Nat.Hist.(4) 16 p. 370 Eupetomena macroura hirundo, Gould
    -Alan P. Peterson, M.D.

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    Androdon aequatorialis ( Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Tooth-bill )

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    Tooth-billed Hummingbird
    From Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould (©1887)
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Androdon Gould, 1863
    Species Androdon aequatorialis Gould, 1863 – Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Tooth-bill
    Androdon aequatorialis

    Named the Ecuadorian "tooth" bill, for good reason as demonstrated in Gould's Monograph

    Ecuadorian toothbill

    From Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould (©1887) :

    ANDRODON ÆQUATORIALIS, Gould.

    Ecuadorian Tooth-bill.

    Androdon æquatorialis, Gould, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1863, vol. xii. p. 247. — Elliot's Syn. p. 5, 1879.
    Gryphus æquatorialis, Muls. Hist. Nat. Ois.-Mouch. tom. i. p. 32, pl.

    It was a source of great pleasure to me that such an interesting form of Humming-bird had been discovered since my great Monograph was published. Of this curious Humming-bird, according to my statement in the ‘Annals’ I had but two specimens — one whose bill was armed with teeth, and a hook at the end of each mandible; the other was toothless in the same organ, and the upper bill did not end in a hook. Judging from this difference in the bills, the male only had teeth ending in a hook, the bill of the female is straighter and smooth at the edges, as will be seen by a glance at the drawing.
    This singular form of Androdon has its alliances, although they are not very near; Gryphus, and Eutoæeres may be stated as two of them; these forms, I beheve, run into Glaucis and Phaethormis. The form about which I am now writing has moderately large wings, while the tail-feathers are half covered; tarsi and feet very small.
    As I have never seen a line written on the history of the Ecuadorian Tooth-bill, I fear some repetition of my original description must be added; for myself, I literally do not know any thing about its habits and economy.
    The following appeared in the 'Annals' :—
    “ I send for insertion in your next Number a description of a new and very singular Humming-bird which I have lately received from Ecuador. Not only does it differ specifically from every other with which I am acquainted, but it also differs in its structure from every form comprised in the great family of Trochilidæ.
    “ This new bird is so very singular that it is not easy to say to which section of the family it is most nearly related; but in some of its characters it assimilates with Gryphus, Eutoæeres, and Doryfera. In size it is about equal to Lampornis mango; the edges of its mandibles are thickly set with fine teeth, like those of Gryphus, but more strongly developed; the bill is very long for the size of the bird, and has rather an upward curvature; the wings are moderate in proportion to the body; and the tail is square or shghtly rounded. The bird must be ranked among the dull-coloured species of its extensive family; at the same time it exhibits some approach to a metallic lustre in the blue or bronzy-red colouring of the hinder part of the crown. I say blue or bronzy-red, because the only specimens I have seen differ in this way, as they also do in the form of the bill, — the one with a blue crown having the toothing strongly developed, and the bill terminating in spiny hooks which cross each other when that organ is closed; whilst the other with a bronzy-red crown has a longer bill, the serrations are not developed, and the spiny hooks are wanting. The tarsi are partly bare of feathers; and the feet are small, pale in colour, and with very long black nails. The back in both is bronzy green; the rump apparently crossed with white feathers, while the upper tail-coverts are bluish; the tail-feathers are pale olive-grey at the base crossed with a band of blackish green near the tip, the three outer ones on each side being largely tipped with white; wings purplish brown, with epaulets of light grey, similar in form to those seen in Helianthea eos; all the under surface grey, with a conspicuous streak of blackish brown down the feathers of the throat, as in Eutoæeres.
    “ Total length 5 3/8 inches, bill 1 7/8, wing 1 5/8, tail 1 3/4. “ Hab. Ecuador.”

    Androdon aequatorialis

    References and Further Reading

  • Androdon aequatorialis Gould, 1863, Taxonomic Serial No.: 555053
  • Monograph of the Trochilidae, J. Gould ©1887
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    Ruby-topaz Hummingbird ( Chrysolampis mosquitus )

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    Ruby topaz hummingbird
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Chrysolampis Boie, 1831
    Species Chrysolampis mosquitus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

    References and Further Reading

  • Funk and Wagnalls Wildlife Encyclopedia, ©1975
  • Chrysolampis mosquitus, (Linnaeus, 1758), Taxonomic Serial No.: 555082
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    White-tailed Hummingbird ( Eupherusa poliocerca )

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    White Tailed Hummingbird
    White Tailed Hummingbird
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Eupherusa Gould, 1857
    Species Eupherusa poliocerca Elliot, 1871 – White-tailed Hummingbird
    White Tailed Hummingbird, Eupherusa poliocerca
    White Tailed Hummingbird,
    Eupherusa poliocerca
    Source: Funk and Wagnalls Wildlife Encyclopedia, ©1975

    References and Further Reading

  • Eupherusa poliocerca Elliot, 1871, Taxonomic Serial No.: 555177
  • Funk and Wagnalls Wildlife Encyclopedia, ©1975
  • Eupherusa poliocerca by Mulsant
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    Streamer-tailed hummingbird of Jamaica ( Trochilus polytmus )

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    Streamer Tailed Hummingbird
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Trochilus Linnaeus, 1758
    Species Trochilus polytmus Linnaeus, 1758 – Streamertail, Red-billed Streamertail
    Jamaican Streamer Tailed Hummingbird

    References and Further Reading

  • Streamertail Hummingbirds
  • Trochilus polytmus Linnaeus, 1758, Taxonomic Serial No.: 555141
  • Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, ©1991
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    Sword Billed Hummingbird ( Ensifera ensifera )

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    Sword Billed Hummingbird
    Sword-billed hummingbird of the Andes
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Ensifera Lesson, 1843
    Species Ensifera ensifera (Boissonneau, 1840) – Sword-billed Hummingbird

    References and Further Reading

  • Ensifera ensifera, (Boissonneau, 1840), Taxonomic Serial No.: 555235
  • Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, ©1991
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    Ruby-Throated Hummingbird ( Archilochus colubris )

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    Ruby-throated hummingbirds are members of the family Trochilidae which is composed of more than 300 species, found only in the New World. The majority of hummingbird species are found in the tropics. The name, Hummingbird, originates from the noise certain species make during flight. They have short legs and small feet which are used for perching but not for walking or running. They reach a size of around 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5-9 cm).

    The Ruby-throated hummingbird is small, iridescent green with a black throat patch that when light strikes the feathers, it appears to be a bright ruby red. They are renown for their bright and brilliant iridescent coloration in their plumage, which results from a refraction effect in the proper light. The juvenile ruby-throat is the same coloration as the female.

    They feed on insects and have specialized beaks suited for regularly feeding on nectar, thus playing a role in plant reproduction. They also come to artificial nectar feeders and are attracted to tubular red flowers.

    They are exceptionally strong fliers. They possess an innate ability to hover and fly backward. Their wing speed can reach about 80 beats per second which makes their wings appear as a blur to any observer who might see them in flight. Their heart pumps 1,260 beats per minute and it breathes 250 times per minute. It weighs approximately 2 to 3 grams.

    Normally hummingbirds are non-migratory, but the ruby-throated hummingbird is migratory and can fly long distances, nonstop, of up to 800 kilometers (500 miles), across the Gulf of Mexico. Annually, ruby-throat hummingbirds migrate from the Carolinas, to Florida, Mexico and Central America.

    Generally, the female constructs the cup-shaped nest out of plant material, spider web and glues pieces of lichen on the outside for camouflage. The mother incubates one or two eggs which are white without any markings, and raises the young on her own. She typically raises a total of one to two broods per year. Incubation takes 12 to 14 days. Fledging between 14-18 days, female feeds the young.

    Ruby Throated Hummingbird
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Aves – Birds
    Order Apodiformes – Swifts, Hummingbirds
    Family Trochilidae – Hummingbirds
    Subfamily Trochilinae
    Genus Archilochus Reichenbach, 1854 – Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
    Species Archilochus colubris (Linnaeus, 1758) – Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    Ruby Throated Hummingbird Pair, male and female
    Male and female ruby-throated hummingbirds

    References and Further Reading

  • Hummingbird, Trochilidae
  • Archilochus colubris, (Linnaeus, 1758), Taxonomic Serial No.: 178032
  • Golden Book Encyclopedia, ©1960
  • Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, ©1991
  • Birds of the Carolinas, by Stan Tekiela, 2nd Edition, Adventure Publications ©2001
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    Aconitum

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    Aconite [æ′kənait]

    Aconitum, common name monkshood and wolfsbane is a group of attractive yet highly poison plants in the crowfoot family. They are native to the northern hemisphere with numerous species distributed throughout the United States and Canada.

    Poison resides in the roots and occasionally the flowers. The chemical produced from Aconitum napellus, the European monkshood is a powerful analgesic and diaphoretic drug, used under controlled conditions because it is fatal in large dose. Many species of aconite are cultivated for perennials by gardeners for their appealing tall stalks of helmet-shaped flowers which are varied between blue, yellow, white and occasionally bi-colored.

    Aconitum
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Plantae – Vegetal, plants
    Subkingdom Viridaeplantae – green plants
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta – land plants
    Division Tracheophyta – vascular plants, tracheophytes
    Subdivision Spermatophytina – spermatophytes, seed plants
    Infradivision Angiospermae – flowering plants, angiosperms
    Class Magnoliopsida
    Superorder Ranunculanae
    Order Ranunculales
    Family Ranunculaceae – buttercups, boutons d'or, crowfoot
    Genus Aconitum L. – monkshood, aconite, wolfsbane
    Direct Children:
    Species Aconitum anthora L. – yellow monkshood
    Species Aconitum X bicolor Schult. (pro. sp.) – twocolor monkshood
    Species Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux – Carmichael's monkshood
    Species Aconitum columbianum Nutt. – Columbian monkshood
    Species Aconitum delphiniifolium DC.
    Species Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser. – Indian aconite
    Species Aconitum fischeri Rchb. – Fischer monkshood
    Species Aconitum lycoctonum L.
    Species Aconitum maximum Pall. ex DC. – Kamchatka aconite
    Species Aconitum napellus L. – Venus' chariot
    Species Aconitum reclinatum A. Gray – trailing white monkshood
    Species Aconitum uncinatum L. – southern blue monkshood
    Species Aconitum variegatum L. – Manchurian monkshood

    References and Further Reading

  • Aconitum L., Taxonomic Serial No.: 18411
  • Collier's Encyclopedia, ©1960
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    Agouti ( Dasyprocta )

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    Agouti [əguti]

    A rodent native to South American, Central American and West Indies' forests of the genus Dasyprocta. It is about 15 inches in length with four hoofed toes on the front feet and three on the hind. It has practically no tail. The hair is soft brown in color. It diet consists of roots, stems, leaves and blossoms of green plants.

    It can run swiftly and usually able to escape predators either by flight or hiding in its burrow. The agouti typically delivers two litters per year with two or more young per litter.

    Agouti, dasyprocta
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Chordata – chordates
    Subphylum Vertebrata – vertebrates
    Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758 – mammals
    Subclass Theria Parker and Haswell, 1897
    Infraclass Eutheria Gill, 1872
    Order Rodentia Bowdich, 1821 – rodents
    Suborder Hystricognatha Woods, 1976
    Infraorder Hystricognathi Brandt, 1855 – hystricognath rodents
    Family Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838
    Genus Dasyprocta Illiger, 1811
    Direct Children:
    Species Dasyprocta azarae Lichtenstein, 1823 – Azara's Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta coibae Thomas, 1902 – Coiban Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta cristata (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1803) – Crested Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 – Black Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta guamara Ojasti, 1972 – Orinoco Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta kalinowskii Thomas, 1897 – Kalinowski's Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) – Red-rumped Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta mexicana Saussure, 1860 – Mexican Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta prymnolopha Wagler, 1831 – Black-rumped Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta punctata Gray, 1842 – Central American Agouti
    Species Dasyprocta ruatanica Thomas, 1901 – Roatán Island Agouti

    References and Further Reading

  • Dasyprocta, Illiger, 1811, Taxonomic Serial No.: 584623
  • Collier's Encyclopedia, ©1960
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    Streblocerus ( Cladoceran )

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    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Streblocerus, cladoceran
    Streblocerus, Cladoceran.
    Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, p.14, from Fryer 1974
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Arthropoda – arthropods
    Subphylum Crustacea Brünnich, 1772 – crustaceans
    Class Branchiopoda Latreille, 1817 – branchiopods
    Subclass Phyllopoda Preuss, 1951
    Order Diplostraca Gerstaecker, 1866
    Suborder Cladocera Latreille, 1829 – water fleas, cladocères
    Infraorder Anomopoda Stebbing, 1902
    Family Macrothricidae Norman & Brady, 1867
    Genus Streblocerus G. O. Sars, 1862
    Direct Children:
    Species Streblocerus annulatum
    Species Streblocerus pygmaeus G. O. Sars, 1901
    Species Streblocerus serricaudatus (Fischer, 1849)

    References and Further Reading

  • Streblocerus, G. O. Sars, 1862, Taxonomic Serial No.: 84126
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    Branchiura sowerbyi ( Oligochaete )

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    Branchiura sowerbyi; Oligochaete
    Source: Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, p. 19
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Annelida – annelids
    Class Clitellata
    Subclass Oligochaeta – angleworms, earthworms, night crawlers
    Order Haplotaxida
    Suborder Tubificina
    Family Tubificidae
    Genus Branchiura Beddard, 1892
    Species Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892

    References and Further Reading

  • Branchiura sowerbyi, Beddard, 1892, Taxonomic Serial No.: 68621
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    Dasydytes, ( Gastrotrich )

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    Dasydytes, gastrotrich
    Source: Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States
    Dasydytes, gastrotrich
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal
    Phylum Gastrotricha Metschnikoff, 1865 – gastrotriches, gastrotrichs
    Order Chaetonotida Remane, 1924
    Family Dasydytidae Daday, 1905
    Genus Dasydytes Gosse, 1851
    Direct Children:
    Subgenus Dasydytes (Chitonodytes) Remane, 1936
    Subgenus Dasydytes (Dasydytes) Remane, 1936
    Subgenus Dasydytes (Prodasydytes) Kisielewski, 1991
    Subgenus Dasydytes (Setodytes) Schwank, 1990
    Genus Dasydytes Gosse, 1851 incertae sedis
    Children with Uncertain Position:
    Species Dasydytes longisetosus (Metschnikoff, 1865)

    References and Further Reading

  • Dasydytes, Gosse, 1851, Taxonomic Serial No.: 58188
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    Chaetonotus ( Gastrotrich )

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    Chaetonotus, Gastrotrich

    Chaetonotus, Gastrotrich
    Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, p. 19

    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal
    Phylum Gastrotricha Metschnikoff, 1865 – gastrotriches, gastrotrichs
    Order Chaetonotida Remane, 1924
    Family Chaetonotidae Gosse, 1864
    Genus Chaetonotus Ehrenberg, 1830
    Subgenus Chaetonotus (Captochaetus) Kisielewski, 1997
    Species Chaetonotus gastrocyaneus Brunson, 1950

    References and Further Reading

  • Chaetonotus gastrocyaneus Brunson, 1950, Taxonomic Serial No.: 57948
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    Elliptio Spinosa ( Altamaha spinymussel )

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    Elliptio Spinosa
    Source: Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States
    From Burch, 1973, Biota Freshwater Ecosystems, E.P.A. Identification Manual No. 11:1-176
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal
    Phylum Mollusca – molluscs, mollusks
    Class Bivalvia Linnaeus, 1758 – bivalves, clams
    Subclass Palaeoheterodonta Newell, 1965
    Order Unionoida Stoliczka, 1871
    Family Unionidae Fleming, 1828
    Genus Elliptio Rafinesque, 1819
    Species Elliptio spinosa (I. Lea, 1836) – Altamaha spinymussel

    References and Further Reading

  • Elliptio spinosa (I. Lea, 1836), Taxonomic Serial No.: 79969
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    Io fluvialis ( spiny riversnail )

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    Io fluvialis
    Source: Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, pg. 19, cites source as from Tryon, 1875, Smithson. Misc. Coll. 253:1-435
    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    Kingdom Animalia – Animal, animals
    Phylum Mollusca – molluscs, mollusks
    Class Gastropoda Cuvier, 1797 – gastropods, slugs, snails
    Order Neotaenioglossa
    Family Pleuroceridae
    Genus Io I. Lea, 1831
    Species Io fluvialis (Say, 1825) – spiny riversnail

    References and Further Reading

  • Io fluvialis (Say, 1825), Taxonomic Serial No.: 71537
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