Hydrochous Gigas Bird

English Name:  Waterfall Swift
Latin Name:  Hydrochous gigas
Protonym:  Collocalia gigas Bull.Br.Orn.Club 11 p.65
Taxonomy:  Caprimulgiformes / Apodidae / Hydrochous
Taxonomy Code:  watswi1
Type Locality:  Selangor, Malay States.
Author:  Hartert & Butler
Publish Year:  1901
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

HYDROCHOUS
(Apodidae; Ϯ Giant Swiftlet H. gigas) Gr. ὑδροχους hudrokhous  water-pourer, name for the constellation Aquarius  < ὑδρο- hudro-  water-  < ὑδωρ hudōr, ὑδατος hudatos  water; χεω kheō  to pour; "Hydrochous, subgen. nov., with type gigas Hartert & Butler.  Hydrochous, which is masculine, is derived from a Greek word meaning water pourer, also the zodiacal constellation Aquarius, and is an allusion to the habit of the type species of breeding behind a waterfall.  ...  Anatomical, osteological, biochemical and behavioural (including a study of calls which appear to be the method by which swifts recognize conspecific mates) studies may show that Hydrochous does not belong with Collocalia at all as is suggested by its peculiar nest site." (Brooke 1970); "Hydrochous R. K. Brooke, 1970, Durban Mus. Novitates, IX (2), p. 17.  Type, by original designation, "gigas Hartert & Butler." = Collocalia gigas Hartert and Butler, 1901." (JAJ 2020).
Var. Hydrochrous.

gigas
L. gigas, gigantis  giant  < Gr. γιγας gigas, γιγαντος gigantos  giant.
● ex Ardea scolopacea J. Gmelin, 1789, and “Caráu” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 366 (syn. Aramus guarauna).
● ex “Coucal Géant” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 223 (syn. Centropus phasianinus).
● ex “Touraco Géant” of Levaillant 1813-1818, pl. 19 (syn. Corythaeola cristata).
● ex “Coucou verdâtre de Madagascar” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Great Madagascar Cuckow” of Latham 1781 (Coua).
● ex “Plus grand Martin-pêcheur” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Great Brown Kingsfisher” of Latham 1782 (syn. Dacelo novaeguineae).