Malacorhynchus Membranaceus Bird

English Name:  Pink-eared Duck
Latin Name:  Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Protonym:  Anas membranacea Suppl.ind.orn. p.lxix
Taxonomy:  Anseriformes / Anatidae / Malacorhynchus
Taxonomy Code:  pieduc1
Type Locality:  New South Wales.
Author:  Latham
Publish Year:  1801
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MALACORHYNCHUS
(Anatidae; Ϯ Pink-eared Duck M. membranaceus) Gr. μαλακος malakos  soft; ῥυγχος rhunkhos  bill; "The geographic distribution, then, of the true Shovellers may be termed universal. But among these broad-billed Ducks of the southern hemisphere, we find a very remarkable modification of form; the breadth of the bill and the length of the laminæ are nearly the same, but the edge of the upper mandible, instead of being smooth, as in the European species, is furnished with a thin membranaceous skin, which considerably projects, and hangs down somewhat like a wattle on each side. For this form, hitherto uncharacterised, I now propose the name of MALACORHYNCHUS, and I shall view it, for reasons hereafter stated, as a sub-genus. The bill of the European Shoveller is flexible; but in this group it is much more so." (Swainson 1831); "Malacorhynchus Swainson, Journ. Roy. Inst. Gr. Brit., 2, pt. 4, 1831, p. 18. Type, by monotypy, Anas membranacea Latham." (Peters 1931, I, 170).
Var. Malacorynchus.
● (syn. Hymenolaimus Ϯ Blue Duck H. malacorhynchos) Specific name Anas malacorhynchos J. Gmelin, 1789; "Genus Malacorhynchus Wagl., Tastlöffelente.  Der Schnabel an seinem vordern erweiterten Ende seitlich mit einer schlappen, hängenden, empfindlichen Haut usw.  Species: 1. M. Forsterorum (An. malacorhynchus Forst. in manuscr. et Auctor. Illius icon. inedit. tab. 74." (Wagler 1832).  Var. Malacorhynchos.
● (syn. Merulaxis Ϯ Slaty Bristlefront M. ater)  "VI. MALACORHYNCHUS, mihi.   μαλακος mollis, ῥυγχος rostrum.  MYIOTHERA, Lichtenstein, P. Max.  BEC de moyenne longueur, faible, aussi haut que large à sa base, légèrement carèné en-dessus, faiblement fléchi à son extrémité, où l'on remarque une échancrure peu profonde; la mandibule inférieure est presque droite, relevée insensiblement vers la pointe. NARINES, recouvertes par une écaille cornée, formant bourrelet à l'ouverture  ...  43. MALACORHYNCHUS CRISTATELLUS, mihi" (Ménétriés 1835). 

membranacea / membranaceus
L. membranaceus  of skin, membraneous  < membrana  membrane, skin  < membrum  member, part.
● ex “New Holland Duck” of Latham 1801 (Malacorhynchus).