Malaconotus Gladiator Bird

English Name:  Green-breasted Bushshrike
Latin Name:  Malaconotus gladiator
Protonym:  Laniarius gladiator J.Orn. 40 p.441
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Malaconotidae / Malaconotus
Taxonomy Code:  grbbus1
Type Locality:  Buea, Mt. Cameroon, 1,000-1,500 meters.
Author:  Reichenow
Publish Year:  1892
IUCN Status:  Vulnerable

DEFINITIONS

MALACONOTUS
(Malaconotidae; Ϯ Grey-headed Bush-shrike M. blanchoti) Gr. μαλακος malakos  soft; -νωτος -nōtos  -backed  < νωτον nōton  back; "Plumage soft and rather full" (Fry et al. (eds.) 2000); "It is important, however, that we should separate the African Thamnophili, from those of the new world; because we shall presently attempt to show, that they both lead to different groups; and because a peculiar distinction will be observed between them; the lateral scales on the tarsi of the African species, are formed of entire laminæ, while, in those from America, they are small and very numerous; in the first, the rictus is strongly bearded, in the last it is smooth. The name of M. Vieillot I shall therefore confine to such species as inhabit America, agreeably to the plan adopted by M. Temminck; while those of Africa will form the Genus Malaconotus, and may be represented by the T. olivaceus of M. Vieillot." (Swainson 1824); "MALACONOTUS   ...   Type. La Pie-grieche blanchot" (Swainson 1827); "Malaconotus Swainson, 1824, Zool. Journ., 1 (1825), p. 40. Type, by original designation, T.[. . . ?] olivaceus "Vieillot" Swainson = La Pie-Grieche blanchot, LeVaill. (see Swainson, 1827, Zool. Journ., 3, (1828), p. 163) = Malaconotus blanchoti Stephens." (Rand in Peters 1960, IX, 338).
Var. Melaconotus.
Synon. Archolestes.

gladiator
L. gladiator, gladiatoris  gladiator, brigand  < gladius  sword.