Tyrannopsis
tie-ran-NOP-sis
Genus
one that looks like a tyrant
Literally: tyrant appearance
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrann- | tyrant, absolute ruler | Greek (tyrann, -o) | from Greek tyrannos (τύραννος); stem used as first element in compound |
| -o- | connecting vowel | standard Greek connecting vowel between roots | |
| -psis | appearance, likeness, resemblance; having the look of | Greek (-opsis) | from Greek opsis (ὄψις), sight or appearance; common suffix in genus names meaning 'resembling' |
A Greek compound noun formed from tyrann(o)- + -opsis. As is typical for genus names ending in -opsis, it is treated as feminine in Latin taxonomy (grammatical gender: feminine). The name means 'one that resembles a tyrant [flycatcher]', signalling that this genus looks like or is related to Tyrannus (the tyrant flycatcher genus).
Pronunciation
- tie-ran-NOP-sis Penult rule 5: the penult vowel (o) is short but followed by two consonants (ps), so the penult is stressed.
Other readings
A direct reading without a connecting vowel — tyrann + opsis — is equally valid; the -o- is simply the standard Greek linking vowel absorbed into -opsis.
Tyrannopsis is a small genus of tyrant flycatchers (family Tyrannidae) found in South America, named for its resemblance to Tyrannus. Both 'tyrann' and 'opsis' were confirmed in the dictionary. The initial T is pronounced; initial Ty- follows normal rules (T = 't', y = short 'i' in an unaccented syllable).