Malachite kingfisher Malachite kingfisher The malachite kingfisher ("Corythornis cristatus") is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate-related movements. The malachite kingfisher was described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name "Alcedo cristata". The specific epithet "cristata" is from the Latin "cristatus" meaning "crested" or "plumed". The adjective "malachite" in the vernacular name normally refers to the dark green colour of the copper containing mineral. This kingfisher has blue upperparts but has black banding with pale blue or greenish-blue on its forehead.
The Malachite Casket (fairy tale) was a part of the animated film series made at Sverdlovsk Film Studio from the early 1970s to early 1980s, on time for the 100th anniversary since the birth of Pavel Bazhov. The series included the following films: "Sinyushka's Well" (1973), "The Mistress of the Copper Mountain" (1975), "The Malachite Casket", "The Stone Flower" (1977), "Podaryonka" (based on "Silver Hoof", 1978), "Golden Hair" (1979), and "The Grass Hideaway" (1982). "The Malachite Casket" is a stop motion animated film directed by Oleg Nikolaevsky, with screenplay by Alexander Timofeevsky. It was narrated by Y. Puzyrev. The music was composed by Vladislav Kazenin