Rynchops Flavirostris Bird

English Name:  African Skimmer
Latin Name:  Rynchops flavirostris
Protonym:  Rhyncops flavirostris Nouv.Dict.Hist.Nat. 3 p.338
Taxonomy:  Charadriiformes / Laridae / Rynchops
Taxonomy Code:  afrski1
Type Locality:  'Australasie,'' error = Senegal.
Author:  Vieillot
Publish Year:  1816
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

RYNCHOPS
(Rynchopidae; Ϯ Black Skimmer R. niger) Gr. ῥυγχος rhunkhos  bill; κοπτω koptō  to cut off;"the upper mandible being as if cut" (Pennant 1773); the skimmers use their specialised bills to skim through the water surface for food; "71. RYNCHOPS.  Rostrum rectum: mandibula superiore multo breviore.  ...  Genus proxima affinitate Laris junctum." (Linnaeus 1758): based on "Cut Water" of Catesby 1731, "Rygchopsalia" of Barrère 1745, and "Plotus rostro conico inæquali" of Klein 1750; "Rynchops Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, 1758, p. 138. Type, by monotypy, Rynchops nigra Linné." (Peters 1934, II, 349).  Linnaeus's Rynchops comprised two forms (R. nigra, R. fulva). 
Var. Rhynchops, Rhincops, Rhinchops, Rhijncops, Rhyncops.
Synon. Anisoramphos, Phalacrocorax, Psalidoramphos, Rygchopsalia.

flavirostre / flavirostris
L. flavus  yellow, golden-yellow; -rostris  -billed  < rostrum  beak.
● ex “Pato pico amarillo y negro” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 439 (Anas).
● "98. FRINGILLA.  ...  flavirostris.  21. F. fusca, rostro flavicante. Faun. svec. 204.  Habitat in Europa." (Linnaeus 1758) (Linaria).
● ex “Favorite de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 897, “Favorite” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Favourite Gallinule” of Latham 1785 (Porphyrio).