Megaceryle Maxima Bird

English Name:  Giant Kingfisher
Latin Name:  Megaceryle maxima
Protonym:  Alcedo maxima Spic.Zool. 1 fasc.6 p.14
Taxonomy:  Coraciiformes / Alcedinidae / Megaceryle
Taxonomy Code:  giakin3
Type Locality:  Cape of Good Hope.
Author:  Pallas
Publish Year:  1769
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MEGACERYLE
(Alcedinidae; Ϯ Crested Kingfisher M. lugubris guttulata) Gr. μεγας megas  great; genus Ceryle Boie, 1828, kingfisher. This genus consists of some of the largest kingfishers: "Die Ceryle zerfallen in die Subgenera Chloroceryle, wohin superciliosa, americana, inda (nicht gesehen), amazona und bicolor gehören; ferner in wahre Ceryle, wohin rudis zu zählen ist; 3) in das Subgenus Megaceryle mit den Arten guttata, alcyon, torquata und maxima. In dem Subgenus Ceryle tritt der längste und spitzeste Flügel auf, nimmt desshalb den zweiten Rang wie das Genus ein." (Kaup 1848); "Megaceryle Kaup (subgenus), Verh. naturhist. Ver. Grossherz. Hessen, 2, 1848, p. 68. Type, by subsequent designation, Alcedo guttata Vigors = Ceryle guttulata Stejneger (Sharpe, Monogr. Alced., 1871, p. viii.)" (Peters 1945, V, 165).
Synon. Alcyon, Ichthynomus, Ispida, Macroceryle, Streptoceryle.

maxima / maximi
L. maximus greatest < super. magnus great.

SUBSPECIES

Giant Kingfisher (maxima)
Latin Name: Megaceryle maxima maxima
maxima / maximi
L. maximus greatest < super. magnus great.

Giant Kingfisher (gigantea)
Latin Name: Megaceryle maxima gigantea
gigantea / giganteus
L. giganteus  gigantic, of the giants  < gigas, gigantis  giant  < Gr. γιγας gigas, γιγαντος gigantos  giant.
● ex “Coucal Géant” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 223 (syn. Centropus phasianinus).
● ex “Touraco Géant” of Levaillant 1806 (syn. Corythaeola cristata).
● ex Grus leucogeranus Pallas, 1773, and “Sibirian Crane” of Pennant 1785, and Latham 1785 (syn. Grus leucogeranus).
● ex “Gigantic Crane” of Latham 1785 (syn. Leptoptilos dubius).
● ex “Ossifraga” of de Ulloa 1748, “Quebrantahuessos Mouton” of Pernety 1769, “Quebrantahuessos” of de Buffon 1770-1783, de Bougainville 1771, Cook 1777, and Forster 1777, “Osprey Petrel” of Forster 1778, and “Giant Petrel” of Latham 1785 (Macronectes).