Streptopelia risoriaand how Linnaeus had the last laugh

Hein Van Grouw

doi:10.25226/bboc.v138i1.2018.a3

Abstract

The dove known as Streptopelia risoria (Linnaeus, 1758) has long confused ornithologists. Linnaeus described a domestic variety of a dove whose wild form was then unknown. Its wild counterpart, African Collared Dove, was subsequently named Streptopelia roseogrisea (Sundevall, 1857) but that name's type series was mixed. Despite this, the name roseogrisea became commonly accepted and was used for both African Collared Dove and its domestic form in avian taxonomy, whilst the name risoria was commonly used by bird-keepers for the domestic form. In 2008 the ICZN ruled that the senior name risoria should have priority for both African Collared Dove and its domestic form, Barbary Dove. Although this decision was appropriate, it was based on incomplete information. Here a detailed history of the use of the name risoria in the ornithological literature is presented, followed by designation of a neotype for roseogrisea to resolve taxonomy.‘Among the Turtle-Doves—now Streptopelia, formerly Turtur—there is first of all a difficulty about the name “risoria”' (Hartert 1916).

Highlights

Summary.—The dove known as Streptopelia risoria (Linnaeus, 1758) has long confused ornithologists
In many other languages (Dutch, German, French, etc.), the domestic form is referred to as ‘Laughing Dove’ (e.g. Lachduif, Lachtaube, Tourterelle rieuse) for the typical call it makes when excited. (In contrast, Laughing Dove S. senegalensis does not give a laughing call at all!) Throughout this paper, the domestic bird is referred to as Barbary Dove and the wild form as African Collared Dove
Long before the wild form was known to science, Barbary Dove had been described by Linnaeus (1758) as Columba risoria (Latin risoris: a laugher), presumably for its ‘giggling’ call

Summary

Introduction

Summary.—The dove known as Streptopelia risoria (Linnaeus, 1758) has long confused ornithologists. (In contrast, Laughing Dove S. senegalensis does not give a laughing call at all!) Throughout this paper, the domestic bird is referred to as Barbary Dove and the wild form as African Collared Dove.

Results

Conclusion