Stictonetta
stick-toh-NET-uh
Genus
the spotted (freckled) duck
Literally: dappled duck
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| sticto- | punctured, dappled | Greek (stict, -o) | combining form; the -o- is the connecting vowel built into the combining form |
| netta | a duck | Greek (nett, =a, =ion) | head noun; =a gives the feminine nominative singular ending; also used as a standalone genus name for pochards |
A pure Greek compound: sticto- (modifier, combining form of stict-) + netta (head noun, feminine). The genus is treated as a feminine Latin noun following the gender of Greek nētta (ἡ νῆττα). No specific epithet is present; this is the genus name alone.
Pronunciation
- stick-toh-NET-uh Penult rule 5: the penult vowel (e in 'net') is short but followed by two consonants (tt), so the penult is stressed.
Other readings
No plausible alternative segmentation: the split sticto- + netta is unambiguous and both roots are confirmed in the dictionary.
Stictonetta naevosa, the Freckled Duck of Australia, is the sole species in this genus; the name directly describes its heavily spotted plumage. The element netta also stands alone as the genus name Netta (pochards), confirming its dictionary status as an independent Greek word for duck.