Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

Common Paradise-kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) - HBW 6, p. 193

French: Martin-chasseur à longs brins German: Spatelliest Spanish: Alción Colilargo Común
Other common names: Galatea Racquet-tail; Rossel Island Racquet-tail (rosseliana)

Taxonomy: Tanysiptera galatea G. R. Gray, 1859, Manokwari, New Guinea.
Forms a superspecies with T. ellioti, T. riedelii and T. carolinae; commonly regarded as conspecific with the first two, but morphological differences, combined with geographical isolation, support treatment as separate species. Fifteen subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • brunhildae Jany, 1955 - Doi I, off N Halmahera (N Moluccas).
  • emiliae Sharpe, 1871 - Rau I, off N Halmahera.
  • doris Wallace, 1862 - Morotai.

     See all 15 subspecies
  • brunhildae Jany, 1955 - Doi I, off N Halmahera (N Moluccas).
  • emiliae Sharpe, 1871 - Rau I, off N Halmahera.
  • doris Wallace, 1862 - Morotai.
  • browningi Ripley, 1983 - Halmahera.
  • sabrina G. R. Gray, 1860 - Kayoa I, off SW Halmahera.
  • margarethae Heine, 1859 - Bacan.
  • obiensis Salvadori, 1877 - Bisa, Obi Latu and Obi.
  • acis Wallace, 1863 - Buru.
  • boanensis Mees, 1964 - Boano I, off NW Seram.
  • nais G. R. Gray, 1860 - Manipa, Ambon, Seram, Manawoka and Gorong.
  • galatea G. R. Gray, 1859 - W Papuan Is, E to Geelvink and Triton Bays.
  • meyeri Salvadori, 1889 - N New Guinea.
  • vulcani Rothschild & Hartert, 1915 - Manam I, off NE New Guinea.
  • minor Salvadori & D’Albertis, 1875 - S New Guinea.
  • rosseliana Tristram, 1889 - Rossel I, in Louisiade Archipelago.