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.
Italian submarine Malachite in Cagliari, when already in view of the Sardinian coast she was spotted by the Dutch submarine HNLMS Dolfijn in the morning of February 9, 1943. At approximately 11:00, HNMS Dolfijn launched a salvo of 4 torpedoes at "Malachite". The Italian submarine managed to avoid three of them by deftly maneuvering, but the fourth one hit her on the stern, and she sank within a minute taking down 35 crew with her. Commander Cinti, three other officers, and nine NCOs and sailors managed to escape. The wreck of "Malachite" was located in September 1999 at a depth of 117 to