Peltops
PEL-tops
Genus
shield-faced one
Literally: shield-face
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| pelt- | a shield | Greek (pelt, =a) | From Greek peltē, the small crescent-shaped shield; stem pelt- |
| -ops | appearance; the face | Greek (=ops) | Terminal combining form; names in -ops are conventionally masculine |
A single Greek compound noun used as a genus name. pelt- (shield) + -ops (face/appearance) form a masculine noun in apposition, following the common pattern of animal genus names ending in -ops that refer to a striking facial or bill feature. Peltops is a genus of flycatcher-like birds (family Monarchidae) found in New Guinea, named for the bold white or coloured facial patch that resembles a shield.
Pronunciation
- PEL-tops Two-syllable word: stress falls on the penult (= the only non-final syllable), Rule 1.
Other readings
pel- (clay/dusky) + -tops (place) is theoretically parseable but yields no meaningful sense and is contradicted by the bird's distinctive white facial shield, making pelt- + -ops overwhelmingly preferred.
The genus Peltops (Wagler, 1829) contains two species of torrent-flycatchers in New Guinea. The name alludes to the conspicuous white facial mask, likened to a small peltē (shield). The suffix -ops is a standard Greek terminal element for genus names alluding to facial appearance (cf. Cychrus, Cyclops, Polyops, etc.).