Oxyura
ox-ee-YOU-rah
Genus
sharp-tailed one
Literally: sharp tail
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| oxy- | sharp, acute; acid | Greek (ox, -a, -i, -y, =ys / oxy, =s) | combining form oxy-; from Greek oxys |
| -ura | the tail | Greek (ur, =a, -o) | standalone form -ura; final -a gives the genus feminine gender in Latin nomenclature |
Oxyura is a pure Greek compound: oxy- (sharp) + -ura (tail), joined directly because the second element begins with a vowel. In Linnaean nomenclature it is treated as a feminine Latin genus name (a noun in apposition to an implied word such as avis, bird). The name refers to the stiff, pointed, erect tail feathers that are the hallmark of the stifftail ducks (tribe Oxyurini). Species epithets in the genus must agree with feminine gender (e.g., Oxyura jamaicensis).
Pronunciation
- ox-ee-YOU-rah Penult rule 4: the penult vowel 'u' is followed by a single consonant 'r'; most penults whose vowel is 'u' followed by a single consonant are long, so stress falls on the penult syllable '-ur-'. Final -a is short ('uh').
Other readings
No credible alternative segmentation exists; oxy- + -ura is the only well-attested Greek compound reading.
Both roots confirmed in the dictionary: oxy- (sharp, acute) and -ura (tail). Oxyura was erected by Bonaparte (1828) for the stifftail ducks; the type species is Oxyura jamaicensis (Ruddy Duck), named for the drake's stiff, spike-like tail held cocked at a sharp angle. The genus is feminine; adjectival species epithets must take feminine endings (e.g., -a, -is).