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 December 1942 she patrolled an area between the island of La Galite and Cape de Fer. She patrolled off the island of La Galite on January 4 and 5 1943 again. On January 21 "Malachite" was deployed to an area between Cape Carbon and Cape Bougaroun. At 4:55 on January 22 she sighted an incoming convoy heading to Bona. At 05:18 she fired four torpedoes, and dove to avoid an attack by the escorts. Two explosions were heard, but again British post-war documents contain no mention of this attack. On February 2, 1943 "Malachite" left Cagliari with a group of