Formicivora
for-mih-SIH-voh-ruh
Genus
The ant-devourer
Literally: ant-eater; she who devours ants
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| formic- | an ant | Latin (formic, =a) | stem of Latin formica (ant); the final -a is dropped in composition, leaving the stem formic- |
| -i- | connecting vowel | Latin connecting vowel -i-, standard in Latin compound nouns | |
| -vora | eat, devour | Latin (vor, -a) | combining suffix from Latin vorare (to devour); -vora is the feminine nominative singular form used as a genus-forming suffix, as in Carnivora, Insectivora |
Formicivora is a Latin compound noun: formica (ant, stem formic-) + connecting vowel -i- + the devouring suffix -vora (from vorare). The whole word is treated as a feminine Latin nominative singular noun, meaning 'the one that devours ants'. This pattern (stem + -i- + -vora) is standard in zoological nomenclature (cf. Carnivora, Insectivora). The genus belongs to the antwrens (family Thamnophilidae), Neotropical passerine birds.
Pronunciation
- for-mih-SIH-voh-ruh Five syllables: for-mi-ci-vo-ra. The penult 'vo' has a short vowel followed by a single consonant (r), so it is a light syllable — stress therefore retreats to the antepenult 'ci'. That antepenult vowel i is short (followed by a single consonant v, and then the vowel o, but i is not a/e/o/u, so the long-antepenult rule does not apply). c before i = 's'. Result: for-mih-SIH-voh-ruh.
Commonly: for-mih-SIV-oh-ruh (common anglicised usage blends the '-ci-v-' into one perceived syllable '-siv-'; both are acceptable)
Other readings
form- could theoretically be read as Latin forma (form, shape) + -ic- + -vora, but this reading makes no biological sense; the formic- = ant reading is unambiguous in context.
formic, =a (Latin, 'an ant') confirmed in dictionary. vor, -a (Latin, 'eat, devour') confirmed in dictionary as a combining form. Formicivora Swainson 1824 is the type genus of antwrens in the family Thamnophilidae. The birds feed primarily on arthropods gleaned from vegetation, including ants, which motivates the name.