rubricauda

Rubricauda is a Latin species epithet meaning "red-tailed" and is used in zoological nomenclature to denote a reddish tail or tail feature in various taxa. It is not a genus or a standalone taxon by itself. The best-known usage is in the seabird name Phaethon rubricauda, commonly called the red-tailed tropicbird, which belongs to the family Phaethontidae within the order Phaethontiformes.

The red-tailed tropicbird is a large tropical seabird characterized by predominantly white plumage, a bright orange-red bill, and very long central tail feathers that give it a distinctive, elongated silhouette in flight. Adults are social and often seen in coastal and island habitats as they traverse vast stretches of warm ocean waters in search of prey. Their diet consists mainly of squid and small fish, captured by aerial pursuits and surface dipping.

Breeding occurs on remote islands and atolls where colonies are established on bare ground or among sparse vegetation. Pairs typically lay a single egg, and both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing. The species nests in loosely organized colonies and, despite being widely distributed across tropical oceans, local populations can be affected by invasive predators, human disturbance, and habitat changes on breeding islands.

In taxonomy, rubricauda is employed as a descriptive epithet across different groups to indicate a reddish tail trait, illustrating the recurring use of Latin color descriptors in scientific naming. The red-tailed tropicbird remains the most prominent example of this epithet in modern zoological literature.