Sarcogyps
sar-CO-jips
Genus
flesh(-eating) vulture
Literally: flesh vulture
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| sarco- | flesh | Greek (sarc, -o) | combining form of σάρξ (sarx), genitive σαρκός (sarkos) |
| gyps | vulture | Greek (gyps, =gyps) | used here as the terminal noun, giving the genus its gender (masculine) |
A Greek compound: sarc(o)- (combining form of σάρξ, 'flesh') + gyps (γύψ, 'vulture'). The head noun gyps is masculine, so the genus name is masculine. The combining vowel -o- links the two elements in standard Greek fashion. The whole word functions as a noun in apposition—'vulture of flesh' or 'flesh vulture'—naming the bird by its feeding habit.
Pronunciation
- sar-ko-JIPS Antepenult rule: the penult vowel 'y' (= short i) is followed by only one consonant (p) before a final consonant, so it does not attract stress; stress falls on the antepenult 'co'... However, re-counting syllables: sar-co-gyps is three syllables. Penult = 'co', antepenult = 'sar'. The penult 'co' is followed by the consonant cluster 'gps'; 'g' before 'y' = /dʒ/, and the penult vowel o is short followed by what is effectively one onset consonant to the final syllable. Applying the rule: penult vowel short, followed by two consonants (g+ps boundary) → stress the penult. Result: sar-CO-jips. Common usage in ornithology however places stress on the antepenult: SAR-co-jips.
Commonly: SAR-co-jips (common ornithological usage, antepenult stress)
Other readings
sarco- + -gyps could theoretically be parsed as sarco- + gyps where gyps means 'gypsum / chalk', but the ornithological context (it is a bird genus) makes 'vulture' the only plausible reading.
Sarcogyps calvus (the Red-headed Vulture) is the only extant species in this genus. gyps (γύψ) is confirmed in the dictionary as meaning 'vulture'; it is also the root of the genus Gyps (Old World vultures). sarc/sarco- is confirmed in the dictionary as meaning 'flesh'. Stress analysis: 'sar-co-gyps' has three syllables. The penult is '-co-' (short o). Before the final syllable '-gyps', the boundary involves the consonant cluster g+y, where g before y = /dʒ/. Because the penult vowel (o) is short and followed by a single onset consonant (/dʒ/) to the last syllable, the antepenult stress rule applies, giving SAR-co-jips. Some authorities prefer penult stress (sar-CO-jips) treating -co- as a heavy syllable.