Myrmoborus
myr-MOB-or-us
Genus
ant devourer
Literally: ant-eater
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrmo- | ant | Greek (myrme, -o) | combining form myrmo- (variant of myrmec-/myrmeco-); stem from myrme/myrmi- |
| -o- | connecting vowel | links the two roots | |
| -borus | eating, devouring | Greek (-bor, -us) | from Greek bora (food) / bibrōskō (to devour); used as a suffix meaning 'eater of' |
Myrmoborus is a single compound genus name formed from two Greek roots joined by the connecting vowel -o-. The head element -borus functions as a noun-forming suffix meaning 'eater/devourer,' and myrmo- supplies the object ('of ants'). The whole word is treated as a masculine Latin noun in the nominative singular, as required for a genus name under the ICZN. Myrmoborus is a genus of antbirds (Thamnophilidae), named for the ant-following behaviour characteristic of the group.
Pronunciation
- mir-mob-OR-us Penult rule 5: the penult vowel 'o' is short but followed by two consonants (r + u... wait — let me re-examine. Syllables: Myr-mo-bor-us. Penult = 'bor': short vowel followed by one consonant before a short vowel → antepenult would be 'mo', but there are four syllables so antepenult = 'mo' (3rd from last). Penult 'bor' has short vowel + single consonant before a vowel → stress falls on antepenult 'mo'? Actually: myr-MO-bor-us — antepenult stress because penult vowel is short followed by single consonant (not two). Stress rule: antepenult, penult vowel short + single following consonant.
Commonly: myr-MOB-or-us
Other readings
The connecting vowel is already included in myrmo-, so the segmentation could also be read as myrmo- + -borus with no separate -o- connector; both readings yield the same result.
Myrmoborus is a genus of Neotropical antbirds in the family Thamnophilidae, described by Cabanis & Heine in 1859. The root myrmo- is a combining form of Greek myrme/myrmex (ant); the dictionary lists it as 'myrme, -o' meaning ant. The suffix -borus (Greek -boros, from bora 'food' / bibrōskō 'to eat/devour') is found in other zoological names such as Mellivora ('honey-eater') and Ossifragus; the dictionary confirms -bor with the sense of eating/devouring. Pronunciation: four syllables — Myr-mo-bor-us. The penult syllable 'bor' has a short vowel followed by only one consonant before the final vowel, so stress falls on the antepenult: myr-MOB-or-us (the 'mo' syllable carries the stress).