Psittrichas
SIT-trih-kas
Genus
The parrot-thrush (a parrot with thrush-like qualities)
Literally: parrot-thrush
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| psitt- | a parrot | Greek (psitt, -ac, =acus) | Stem psitt-, from psittacus; final -t of psitt- elides with initial t- of trichas, producing Psittrichas by haplology of the double-t boundary |
| -richas | a thrush | Greek (tricha, -do, =s) | Nominative singular form trichas; the leading t- merges with the preceding psitt-, so only one t appears at the juncture in the coined compound |
The genus name is a single Greek compound noun treated as Latin feminine (following the -as nominative ending convention). psitt- (parrot) serves as the first element modifying or compounding with trichas (thrush) as the head noun. The boundary double-t (psitt + trichas) is reduced to a single t in writing, giving Psittrichas rather than Psitttrichas. The name describes Pesquet's parrot (Psittrichas fulvus), whose bare red face and upright posture give it a somewhat thrush-like or vulture-like appearance compared to typical parrots.
Pronunciation
- SIT-trih-kas Three syllables (sit-tri-chas); penult 'tri' has a short vowel followed by a single consonant (ch = k), so stress falls on the antepenult 'sit'. Initial P is silent by the initial-ps rule.
Other readings
psitt- + -o- + trichas with connecting vowel dropped before the initial vowel cluster; or a reading of trich- (hair) + -as suffix, but this is far less likely given the well-attested trichas 'thrush' and the ornithological context
Initial P is silent: the initial-ps rule states that in an initial ps cluster the p is not pronounced. The double-t at the psitt/trichas boundary is reduced to a single t in the spelled form Psittrichas (haplographic elision at the compound juncture); some authors hyphenate it Psitt-richas to clarify the etymology. The genus contains a single species, Psittrichas fulvus, Pesquet's parrot of New Guinea, named for its unusual bare-faced, almost vulturine appearance among parrots — the 'thrush' element may allude to its relatively slender build compared to typical parrots.