Lagopus Muta Bird

English Name:  Rock Ptarmigan
Latin Name:  Lagopus muta
Protonym:  Tetrao mutus Phys.Salsk.Handl. 1 p.155
Taxonomy:  Galliformes / Phasianidae / Lagopus
Taxonomy Code:  rocpta1
Type Locality:  Sweden.
Author:  Montin
Publish Year:  1781
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

LAGOPUS
(Tetraonidae; Ϯ Willow Grouse L. lagopus) L. lagopus, lagopodis  ptarmigan  < Gr. λαγωπους lagōpous, λαγωποδος lagōpodos  ptarmigan, rough-footed like a hare  < λαγως lagōs  hare; πους pous, ποδος podos  foot; "Pedibus plumosis. .  . .Lagopus. Genus 5.  ...  Genus Lagopodis  ...  Crura ad calcaneum usque plumosa  ...  Pedes plumosi. Calcaribus carent hujus generis Aves" (Brisson 1760): based on "Lagopus" of Willughby 1676, Sibbald 1684, Ray 1712 and Klein 1750; "Lagopus Brisson, Orn., 1, 1760, p. 26, 181. Type, by tautonymy, Lagopus Brisson = Tetrao lagopus Linné." (Peters 1934, II, 29).
Var. Lagophus, Logopus.
Synon. Acetinornis, Attagen, Keron, Oreias.
● (syn. Buteo Ϯ Ferruginous Hawk B. regalis) Specific name Falco lagopus Pontoppidan, 1763; "Mr. L. Fraser laid upon the table three new species of Birds, which he described as   LAGOPUS FERRUGINEUS  ...  Upper surface dark brown, mottled slightly with white on the head and neck; tail above the basal half white, terminal brown, totally white beneath  ...  Hab. Mexico.  ...  There are three specimens of this bird in different stages of plumage in the Society's collection, all from Mexico." (Fraser 1844).

lagopus
● Gr. λαγωπους lagōpous, λαγωποδος lagōpodos  hare-footed, rough-footed  < λαγως lagōs  hare; πους pous, ποδος podos  foot (Buteo).
● L. lagopus, lagopodis  ptarmigan  < Gr. λαγωπους lagōpous, λαγωποδος lagōpodos  ptarmigan, rough-footed like a hare; "91. TETRAO.  ...  Lagopus.  4. T. pedibus lanatis, remigibus albis, rectricibus nigris apice albis: intermediis totis albis.  Tetrao rectricibus albis: intermediis nigris apice albis. Fn. svec. 169.  Lagopus. Gesn. av. 577. Aldr. orn. l. 13. c. 21. Will. orn. 127. t. 32. Raj. av. 55. Edw. av. 72. t. 72.  Habitat in Europæ alpinis, ex Betula nana victitans.  Pedibus lanatis leporis; hyeme albus exceptis rectricibus, sub nive sæpius cuniculos agens; in sylvis loquax cachinnis.” (Linnaeus 1758) (Lagopus).

muta
L. mutus  silent, dumb, mute.

SUBSPECIES

Rock Ptarmigan (hyperborea)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta hyperborea
hyperborea / hyperboreus
L. hyperboreus  northern  < Gr. Ὑπερβορεοι Huperboreoi  a people of the extreme north.
● Lapland and Hudson Bay; ex “Larus fidipes alter” of Willughby 1676, and Ray 1713, “Tringa fuscus canadensis” of Edwards 1743-1751, “Phalaropus cinereus” of Brisson 1760, and Tringa lobata Linnaeus, 1761 (syn. Phalaropus lobatus).

Rock Ptarmigan (muta)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta muta
muta
L. mutus  silent, dumb, mute.

Rock Ptarmigan (millaisi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta millaisi
millaisi
John Guille Millais (1865-1931) English naturalist, traveller, big-game hunter, artist (subsp. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (pyrenaica)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta pyrenaica
pyrenaica / pyrenaicus
L. Pyrenaicus  Pyrenean, of the Pyrenees  < Pyrenaei Montes  Pyrenees  < Gr. myth. Pyrene, daughter of Bebryx and beloved of Hercules.

Rock Ptarmigan (helvetica)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta helvetica
helvetica / helveticus
L. Helveticus Helvetian, of the Helvetii or Swiss.
● ex “Vanellus helveticus” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Pluvialis squatarola).

Rock Ptarmigan (komensis)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta komensis
komensis
Koma, Ural Mts., Russia.

Rock Ptarmigan (pleskei)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta pleskei
pleskei / pleskii
Fëdor Eduardovich (Dmitrievich) Pleske (1858-1932) Russian zoologist (Cyanistes hybrid, syn. Falco peregrinus japonensis, subsp. Lagopus muta, Locustella, syn. Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris, syn. Phylloscopus collybita abietinus, Podoces, subsp. Tetrao urogallus).

Rock Ptarmigan (macrorhyncha)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta macrorhyncha
macrorhyncha / macrorhynchos / macrorhynchus
Gr. μακρορρυγχος makrorrhunkhos long-billed < μακρος makros long; ῥυγχος rhunkhos bill.
● ex “Great-billed Tody” of Latham 1782 (Cymbirhynchus).
● ex “Perroquet de la nouvelle Guinée” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 713, “Perroquet à bec couleur de sang” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Great-billed Parrot” of Latham 1781 (syn. Tanygnathus megalorhynchos).
● ex “Plus grand Barbu à gros bec de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 689, “Plus grand Tamatia noir et blanc” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Greater Pied Barbet” of Latham 1782 (Notharchus).

Rock Ptarmigan (nadezdae)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta nadezdae
nadezdae / nadiae
Prof. Nadezhda Nikolaevna Sushkina (1889-1975) Russian microbiologist, wife of zoologist Prof. Dr. Peter P. Sushkin (subsp. Lagopus muta, syn. Prunella fulvescens nanschanica).

Rock Ptarmigan (transbaicalica)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta transbaicalica
transbaicalica / transbaicalicus / transbaykalica
L. trans beyond; Lake Baikal, Siberia.

Rock Ptarmigan (kraschennikovi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta kraschennikovi

Rock Ptarmigan (ridgwayi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta ridgwayi
ridgway / ridgwayi
Robert Ridgway (1850-1929) US ornithologist, Smithsonian Curator of Birds 1880-1929 (Aegolius, syn. Amazona leucocephala, subsp. Anous stolidus, Antrostomus, subsp. Arremonops rufivirgatus, Baeolophus, syn. Basileuterus culicivorus, Buteo, subsp. Buteogallus urubitinga, subsp. Camptostoma imberbe, subsp. Certhidea fusca, subsp. Chasiempis sandwichensis, subsp. Cochlearius cochlearius, subsp. Colinus virginianus, Cotinga, subsp. Cyanocitta stelleri, subsp. Dendrocincla fuliginosa, syn. Dendrocolaptes certhia concolor, syn. Dryobates scalaris parvus, subsp. Fregata minor, subsp. Geothlypis poliocephala, Glaucidium, subsp. Icterus icterus, subsp. Jacamerops aureus, subsp. Lagopus muta, subsp. Leiothlypis ruficapilla (ex Helmithophaga ruficapilla gutturalis Ridgway, 1874), subsp. Loxigilla noctis, syn. Megascops trichopsis, subsp. Myiobius atricaudus, Nesotriccus, subsp. Pandion haliaetus, syn. Passerella iliaca insularis, subsp. Pheugopedius coraya, Plegadis, subsp. Psarocolius wagleri, subsp. Scardafella squammata, Stelgidopteryx, Thalurania, subsp. Thryorchilus browni, subsp. Xenops genibarbis).

Rock Ptarmigan (kurilensis)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta kurilensis
kurilensis
Kuril or Kurile Is., Sakhalin Oblast, Far Eastern Russia.

Rock Ptarmigan (japonica)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta japonica
japanensis / japanicus / japensis / japonensis / japonica / japonicum / japonicus
Japan (Mod. English names (early examples including Giapan) were derived from a Portuguese corruption of Malay Jepang and Chinese Zeppen, themselves local renderings of Nippon). The French equivalent is Japon.
● ex “Japonese Eagle” of Latham 1781 (subsp. Falco peregrinus).
● ex “Grue du Japon” of Brisson 1760 (Grus).
● Erroneous TL Japan (= New Guinea); ex “Psittacus erythrochlorus macrourus” of Aldrovandus 12599, and “Psittaca japonica” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Charmosyna papou).

Rock Ptarmigan (evermanni)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta evermanni
evermanni
Dr Barton Warren Evermann (1853-1932) US ichthyologist, collector (subsp. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (townsendi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta townsendi
townsendi / townsendii
● John Kirk Townsend (1809-1851) US ornithologist, explorer, collector (syn. Aphriza virgata, syn. Brachyramphus marmoratus, syn. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor, syn. Haematopus ater, Myadestes, subsp. Passerella unalaschcensis, syn. Phalacrocorax penicillatus, Setophaga, ‡Spiza).
● Charles Haskins Townsend (1859-1944) US naturalist, Fisheries Commission 1883, Director of New York Aquarium 1902-1937 (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius, subsp. Ducula oceanica, syn. Geospiza psittacula, syn. Hydrobates melania, subsp. Junco hyemalis, syn. Lagopus muta, subsp. Myiagra vanikorensis, subsp. Plectrophenax nivalis).
● Dr Charles Wendell Townsend (1859-1934) US obstetrician, field ornithologist, world-wide traveller, collector 1906-1932 (subsp. Cardinalis cardinalis, subsp. Spindalis zena, subsp. Thalurania colombica).

Rock Ptarmigan (gabrielsoni)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta gabrielsoni
gabrielsoni
Dr Ira Noel Gabrielson (1889-1977) US biologist, conservationist with Bureau of Biological Survey 1915-1946 (subsp. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (sanfordi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta sanfordi
sanfordi
Dr Leonard Cutler Sanford (1868-1950) US zoologist, Trustee of AMNH, organised Whitney-Sanford South Pacific expeditions, sponsor of AMNH Mt Hagen Expedition (subsp. Archboldia papuensis, subsp. Asio flammeus, syn. Cinnyrorhyncha longirostra, subsp. Crateroscelis robusta, Cyornis, Diomedea, subsp. Erythrura trichroa, Haliaeetus, subsp. Lagopus muta, subsp. Micrathene whitneyi, subsp. Mino kreffti, subsp. Myzomela cardinalis, subsp. Pachycephala orioloides, syn. Perisoreus canadensis nigricapillus, subsp. Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus, syn. Rhamphomantis megarhynchus).

Rock Ptarmigan (chamberlaini)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta chamberlaini
chamberlaini
Frederick Morton Chamberlain (1867-1921) US ichthyologist, naturalist on US Fisheries vessel Albatross 1907 (subsp. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (atkhensis)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta atkhensis
atkhensis
Atka I., Aleutian Is., Alaska, USA.

Rock Ptarmigan (yunaskensis)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta yunaskensis
yunaskensis
Yunaska I., Aleutian Is., Alaska, USA.

Rock Ptarmigan (nelsoni)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta nelsoni
nelsoni
• Dr Edward William Nelson (1855-1934) US zoologist, collector in US and Mexico, President of AOU 1908, and Chief of US Biological Survey 1916-1927 (subsp. Agelaius phoeniceus, Ammospiza, syn. Antrostomus badius, subsp. Campephilus guatemalensis, subsp. Campylorhynchus megalopterus, subsp. Catharus frantzii, syn. Colinus virginianus insignis, subsp. Cyanocorax sanblasianus, syn. Dryobates pubescens medianus, subsp. Eupherusa eximia, Geothlypis, subsp. Habia rubica, subsp. Icterus cucullatus, subsp. Lagopus mutum, syn. Lanius ludovicianus mexicanus, syn. Larus vegae x L. hyperboreus hybrid, subsp. Lochmias nematura, syn. Myiarchus tyrannulus cooperi, syn. Nyctidromus albicollis yucatanensis, subsp. Onychoprion anaethetus, syn. Phaethornis striigularis subrufescens, subsp. Polioptila caerulea, subsp. Quiscalus mexicanus, subsp. Sialia mexicana, subsp. Sitta carolinensis, subsp. Tunchiornis ochraceiceps, Vireo (ex Vireo nanus Nelson, 1898)).
• George Nelson (1876-1962) US botanist, zoologist, photographer, taxidermist at MCZ, Harvard College 1901-1946 (Martin Schneider in litt.) (subsp. Setophaga vitellina).

Rock Ptarmigan (dixoni)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta dixoni
dixoni
● Joseph Scattergood Dixon (1887-1952) US ornithologist, field observer (subsp. Lagopus muta, syn. Melanitta deglandi).
● Charles Dixon (1858-1926) British oologist, journalist, author (Zoothera).

Rock Ptarmigan (kelloggae)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta kelloggae
kelloggae
Louise Kellogg (1879-1967) US naturalist, botanist, explorer, collector (syn. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (rupestris)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta rupestris
rupestris
Mod. L. rupestris  rock-dwelling, montane  < L. rupes, rupis  rock  < rumpere  to shatter.
● ex “Rock Grous” of Pennant 1784 (subsp. Lagopus muta).
● ex “Rocar” of Levaillant 1802, pl. 101 < French roc or rocher rock (Monticola).

Rock Ptarmigan (saturata)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta saturata
saturata
L. saturatus  richly coloured, darker coloured  < satur, satura  rich, copious  < satis  enough.

Rock Ptarmigan (macruros)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta macruros
macruros / macrurus
Gr. μακρος makros  long; -ουρος -ouros  -tailed  < ουρα oura  tail.
● ex “Long-tailed Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Kittacincla malabarica).

Rock Ptarmigan (reinhardi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta reinhardi
reinhardi
Prof. Johannes Christopher Hagemann Reinhardt (1778-1845) Danish zoologist (subsp. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (welchi)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta welchi
welchi
George O. Welch (fl. 1883) US collector in Newfoundland 1883 (subsp. Lagopus muta).

Rock Ptarmigan (islandorum)
Latin Name: Lagopus muta islandorum
islandica / islandicus / islandorum / islandus
Iceland  < Icelandic Ísland (cf. Med. L. Islandensis  Icelandic).
● ex “Hravn Oend” of O. F. Müller 1776, and “Iceland Duck” of Latham 1785 (Bucephala).
● ex “Gerfaut d’Islande” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Falco rusticolus).
● Balta Sound, Shetland Is. (syn. Larus glaucoides).