What is Rallus rytirhynchos Vieillot, 1819? The true identity of Azara’s (1805) No. 372 Ypacahá del Pardo

Abstract

The identity of the bird described from Paraguay by Félix de Azara as No. 372 Ypacahá del Pardo is confirmed as the immature plumage of the Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus maculatus (Boddaert, 1783). This description is the basis for the name Rallus rytirhynchos Vieillot, 1819 which is thus a junior subjective synonym and an available name. Rallus rytirhynchos Vieillot, 1819 is the type species of the genus Ortygonax Heine, 1890. Ortygonax Heine, 1890 is a junior subjective synonym of Pardirallus Bonaparte, 1856 and is also available for application.