Collared Sparrowhawk - specific name

["Sandra Henderson" <>]

Hugo
The original spelling is cirrocephalus (from Vieillot, 1817). The
alternate spelling appeared 1874 (Sharpe). The other species including
the word cirrocephalus named by Vieillot (Larus cirrocephalus) has same
problem - someone came along later in the century and added a 'h', so
now the two forms are used.
Derived from the Latin 'cirrus' (curl of hair - and applied commonly to
clouds such as cirro-stratus etc) - and 'cephalus' (head).

Article 32 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature gives no
justification for establishing an alternate spelling as the correct form
unless there is an error in the original spelling - which there wasn't
in this case. (the relevant text is at
http://www.iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp?nfv=&article=32 ).  It is stated
elsewhere in the literature that the later cirrhocephalus spelling was
an "unjustified emendation".   So although both forms are pretty
commonly used, the original spelling would seem to be the more correct
one.


Sandra Henderson
Email: 

-----Original Message-----
From: 
 On Behalf Of Hugo Phillipps
Sent: Wednesday, 13 December 2006 3:45 PM
To: Birding-Aus messages
Subject: Collared Sparrowhawk - specific name

Hi everybody -

Can anyone tell me the 'correct' , or possibly the 'currently
consensually accepted' , specific name for the Collared Sparrowhawk?
Both HANZAB 2 and Christidis & Boles have 'cirrhocephalus' while many
others, including the Sibley & Monroe checklist, have 'cirrocephalus'.
Is one of these more 'correct' than the other? Is one just a viral typo?
Clarification of why there are two widespread spellings would be
welcome.

Thanks,
Hugo

Hugo Phillipps
Queenscliff, Vic

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