Microcarbo coronatus (Wahlberg, 1855)

Dean, W. Richard J., Åhlander, Erik & Johansson, Ulf S., 2022, Avian type localities and the type specimens collected by Johan August Wahlberg in southern Africa, Zootaxa 5134 (4), pp. 521-560 : 527

Graculus coronatus Wahlberg, 1855: 214 .

VERBATIM TYPE LOCALITY: “ Ad insulas Possession & c. sat frequens ”

CURRENT STATUS: Microcarbo coronatus (Wahlberg, 1855/1856); Phalacrocoracidae ( Dickinson & Remsen 2013:195)

TYPE MATERIAL: Wahlberg, in his original description (1855: 214), gave data for both males and females. According to Sundevall’s acquisition journal, seven specimens were received in Stockholm after Wahlberg’s death. Gyldenstolpe (1926: 96) referred to NRM 569853 [11826] as “type”, which we treat as a lectotype designation of this adult male collected 30 March 1854 on Penguin Island, according to the label in Gyldenstolpe’s hand. The six paralectotypes are: NRM 90101901 [11822], a female collected 30 March 1854 on Possession Island; NRM 90101900 [11823], a young male collected 6 April 1854 on Penguin Island; NRM 554497 [11824], a male pullus collected 11 April 1854 on Ichaboe Island; NRM 90101902 [11828], a male collected 9 April 1854 at Halifax Island; NRM 536790 [11825], an adult female collected 30 March 1854 on Penguin Island; and UMB 9677 [11827], an adult male collected 11 April 1854 on Ichaboe Island sent on exchange to Bremen in 1858.

VERIFIED TYPE LOCALITY: Possession Island , Namibia .

COMMENTS: Gyldenstolpe (1926) repeated the TL given in the type description without question, but noted that the type specimen was collected at Penguin Island. However, based on the date on which the lectotype was collected, the TL should be Possession Island. On 30 March, Wahlberg collected at least one specimen of Microcarbo coronatus at Possession Island. This is confirmed by the “original” label that still remains on the skin. The name of the island is very difficult to read, but it most closely resembles “Possession Island” and not “Penguin Island”. The original label on the type specimen of Graculus coronatus Wahlberg is missing but the replacement label is dated 30 March 1854, with the locality Penguin Island. There are no other old labels on any specimen that would confirm the dates for Wahlberg’s visit to Penguin Island but there are four specimens with replacement labels, three of which have the locality Penguin Island on 4 April, the other 6 April. We consider it most likely that Penguin Island on the replacement label is a misreading of Possession Island because in Wahlberg’s original description of the species in Översigt af Kong. Vetenskaps-akademiens förhandlingar (1855) he wrote “ Ad insulas Possession & c. sat frequens.” (= on Possession Island and fairly frequent).