Lepidothrix
lep-ih-doh-TRIKS
Genus
scaly-haired
Literally: scale-hair
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| lepido- | a scale | Greek (lepi, -do, =s, -sma) | combining form lepido- from lepis (stem lepid-) |
| -thrix | hair | Greek (=thrix) | Greek thrix (stem trich-), used here as a terminal element; refers to feather structure |
A single compound Greek noun used as a genus name, treated as feminine in Latin (following thrix, which is feminine in Greek). The first element lepido- (combining form of lepis, 'scale') modifies the head noun thrix ('hair'), yielding the sense 'hair that is scale-like' or 'having scaly hair (feathers).' This almost certainly alludes to the scale-like or glossy iridescent texture of the plumage of these manakins (Pipridae).
Pronunciation
- lep-ih-doh-TRIKS Four syllables: le-pi-do-thrix. The penult is 'do', a short vowel followed by a single consonant then a consonant cluster (thr); however 'thrix' is a single heavy closed syllable. Treating the penult vowel 'o' as short followed by consonant cluster (thr), the penult is heavy → stress the penult: do-THRIX. But the conventional stress for compounds ending in -thrix places stress on the antepenult (lep-ID-oh-triks is also heard). The standard classical rule: penult 'do' is short, followed by thr (mute + liquid), which is an exception (mute + r does NOT make position) → stress falls on the antepenult: LEP-ih-doh-triks.
Commonly: lep-ih-DOH-triks (sometimes heard, treating -do- as a heavy penult)
Other readings
No credible alternative segmentation: the epi- + ido- + thrix reading is positionally forced and semantically incoherent; lepido- + thrix is the only well-formed split.
Lepidothrix is a genus of manakins (Pipridae) found in South America; the name likely refers to the scale-like gloss of the crown or body feathers. The segment epi- + ido- found by the scanner is a positional artifact and is not the intended reading. thrix has an irregular stem trich- (as in trichology), but in terminal position the nominative form thrix is used unchanged.