Cyrtonyx

Cyrtonyx
Cyrtonyx montezumae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Odontophoridae
Genus: Cyrtonyx
Gould, 1844
Type species
Ortyx montezumae
Vigors, 1830

Cyrtonyx is a bird genus in the New World quail family Odontophoridae.

The genus Cyrtonyx was introduced in 1844 by the English ornithologist and bird artist John Gould.[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek kurtos meaning "curved" and onux meaning "nail" or "claw".[2] The type species is the Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae).[3]

  1. ^ Gould, John (1844). A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America. London: Printed by Richard and John E. Taylor. Plate [7] and text.
  2. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  3. ^ Peters, James Lee, ed. (1934). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 2. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 57.