Certhilauda
ser-thi-LAW-duh
Genus
the lark that resembles a tree creeper
Literally: tree creeper lark
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certhi- | a tree creeper (i.e. the bird genus Certhia) | Greek (certh, -i) | combining form certhi-, truncated from genus name Certhia; the -a is dropped before the next element |
| -lauda | a lark (i.e. the bird genus Alauda) | Latin (alaud, =a) | the initial a- of Alauda is elided in the compound, leaving -lauda |
Certhilauda is a portmanteau genus name formed by blending Certhia (tree creeper genus, from Greek kerthios) and Alauda (lark genus, from Latin alauda). The initial a- of Alauda is dropped to give a smooth junction: Certhi- + lauda. The resulting noun is treated as a feminine Latin noun of the first declension (like Alauda), as is conventional for bird genera. The name means 'a lark of the Certhia type', reflecting these birds' long, creeper-like bills and terrestrial habits.
Pronunciation
- ser-thi-LAW-duh Penult rule 2: the penult syllable 'lau' contains the diphthong au (= 'aw'), so the penult is stressed.
Other readings
A purely compositional reading certhi- (tree creeper) + lauda (praise, Latin laudare) is possible but almost certainly wrong; the portmanteau with Alauda is the zoologically intended reading.
Certhilauda is a genus of African lark-like birds (family Alaudidae) named for their superficial resemblance to tree creepers (Certhia spp.) in bill shape and foraging style. The Greek root kerthios (a small tree-climbing bird) underlies the genus Certhia; the Latin alauda (lark, possibly of Gaulish origin) underlies Alauda. Both source roots are confirmed in the dictionary. The alternative segmentation certhi- + lauda (Latin 'praise') is grammatically possible but makes no biological sense and is not the intended etymology.