Munia subcastanea

Quick answer

COMMENTS: The description was based on three specimens, two males and a female, said to be from Donggala and Tawaya; however, the three specimens are all labeled as from Donggala. No type was designated in the original description, but Hartert (1919 a: 143) listed the male from Donggala as the type. Because there are two males bearing the same collecting data, Hartert’s listing did not distinguish between the two. AMNH 721260 bears a Rothschild type label and Doherty’s original label that is marked ‘‘ Type. Munia subcastanea sp. n. Hart. ’’ by Hartert; it was his intended type and, having been so cataloged when the Rothschild Collection came to AMNH, has been considered the type without question. In order to confirm his intent and remove the ambiguity, I hereby designate AMNH 721260 the lectotype of Munia subcastanea. The two paralectotypes are: Donggala, AMNH 721261, male, AMNH 721262, female, August 1896, collected by Doherty; The label of the latter specimen is marked ‘‘ Type of ♀ ’’ in a hand other than Hartert’s. Most recent authors consider Lonchura pallida monotypic, but Watling (1983: 260), based on his work in Lore Lendu Reserve, considered subcastanea a ‘‘ distinctive subspecies. ’’ These three specimens appear to confirm this as they are much darker on the underparts than any other specimens of pallida.