The Mammals of Argentina: an Etymology
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Mastozoología Neotropical; 2(2):173-206 ISSN 0327-9383 SAREM, 1995 THE MAMMALS OF ARGENTINA: AN ETYMOLOGY Janet K. Braun and Michael A. Mares1,2 ' Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 2 Department of Zoology, University of Oldahoma, Norman, OK 73019 ABSTRACT: The etymology of all genera and species of terrestrial mammals of Argentina are described. RESUMEN: Los mamíferos de Argentina: una etimología. Se presenta la etimología de todos los géneros y especies de los mamíferos terrestres de la Argentina. Key words: Mammals, etymology, Argentina, genera, species, taxonomy, South America Palabras clave: Mamíferos, etimología, Argentina, géneros, especies, taxonomía INTRODUCTION Lucero (1981), Bárquez (1987), Bárquez et The etymology of Argentine mammals has not al. (1991, 1993), and Redford and Eisenberg been completely presented in other published (1992). works that have dealt with one or another as- Methods pect of the derivation of mammalian scientific names (Palmer, 1904; Conisbee, 1953, 1960, Taxa are listed in systematic order following 1964, 1970, 1975; Gotch, 1979). Argentina is Wilson and Reeder (1993). Orders, families, a very active geographic area for the descrip- and subfamilies, if appropriate, are given. tion of new species (and even genera) of mam- Genera and species are arranged alphabeti- mals. We have attempted to ascertain, as much cally. The authority and date are given after as possible, the construction of the Latin bi- each species name. nomials of all Argentine mammal species. We Whenever possible, derivations of names are believe that a review of these names is in- given. Major sources used include: Palmer structive, not only in codifying many aspects (1904); Conisbee (1953); Brown (1956); Jae- of the biology of the mammals, but in pre- ger (1962); Gotch (1979). Original literature senting a historical overview of collectors and also was consulted for explanations of names taxonomic work in Argentina. or for clues in the descriptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS ETYMOLOGY OF Taxa SCIENTIFIC NAMES The listing of Argentine mammals was based Order Didelphimorphia primarily on Wilson and Reeder (1993), and Family Didelphidae supplemented with our own experience with Subfamily Caluromyinae the species comprising the fauna of Argen- Caluromys lanatus (Olfers, 1818) tina. We also examined numerous published cal—kalos (Gr), beautiful + ur—oura (Gr), works in addition to those included in the tail + mys (Gr), a mouse (Palmer, 1904; Gotch, original papers presenting each binomial, in- 1979) cluding Osgood (1943), Cabrera (1957, 1961), lanatus (L), woolly (Gotch, 1979) Mares et al. (1981, 1989, 1995), Olrog and The genus name refers to the long, partially Recibido 22 Agosto 1995. Aceptado 10 Octubre 1995. 174 Janet K. Braun and Michael A. Mares haired tail; the species name refers to its The genus name is a reference to the large woolly fur. skull and powerful jaws that indicate it is a predator (Tate, 1934; Conisbee, 1953), i.e., Subfamily Didelphinae the predatory Didelphis. The species was Chironectes minimus (Zimmermann, 1780) named in honor of Mr. T.H. Hall, who ob- chir—cheir (Gr), the hand + nect—nektris tained the type specimen in 1920 not far from (Gr), a swimmer (Palmer, 1904; Gotch, 1979) Puerto Deseado, Argentina at Cape Tres minimus (L), smallest (Gotch, 1979) Puntas. The collection containig this specimen The genus name refers to the webbed hind was sent by Mr. Hall to the Perth Museum, feet, which are adapted for swimming (Palmer, Western Australia, and the British Museum 1904); this species was originally compared received the collection in an exchange. to an otter and found to be much smaller (Gotch, 1979). Lutreolina crassicaudata (Desmarest, 1804) lutr—diminutive lutreola (L), otter, mink + Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840 ina (L), suffix denoting likeness (Conisbee, di- (Gr) a prefix meaning two + delph- 1953) delphys (Gr), the womb (Palmer, 1904; Gotch, crass—crassus (L) thick + caud—cauda (L), 1979) the tail + atus (L), an adjectival suffix mean- alb—albus (L), white'+ ventr—genitive ventris ing "provided with" (L), the belly The genus name is a derivative of Lutreola, a The genus name refers to the marsupium or mink, a reference to its long, weasel-like body pouch as a secondary womb in which the (Conisbee, 1953). The species name refers to young develop after birth (Palmer, 1904; the thick tail. Gotch, 1979). The species name refers to the white belly. Metachirus nudicaudatus (Desmarest, 1817) meta (Gr), behind + chir—cheir, cheiros (Gr), Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826 the hand (Palmer, 1904) auritus (L), eared nud—nudus (L), naked + caud—cauda (L), The species name simply means "eared the tail + atus (L), a suffix added to noun Didelphis" and may refer to the ear color, stems to form adjectives meaning "provided which is black. The white-eared opossum, with" Didelphis albiventris, also occurs in the same The genus name refers to the absence of region. webbing between the toes of the hind feet; webbing is present in Chironectes (Palmer, Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister, 1854) 1904). The species name refers to the tail, gracil—gracilis (L), slender + nanus (L), a which is naked except for the basal 5-25 mm. dwarf agilis (L), quick, light, nimble Micoureus constantiae (Thomas, 1904) The genus name refers to the slender appear- micouré—a native word ance of this small opossum; the species name constantiae—a proper name is self explanatory. The genus name is from a Guaraní Indian word meaning an opossum (Palmer, 1904). The Gracilinanus microtarsus (Wagner, 1842) species was named in honor of Mrs. Percy micr—mikros (Gr), small + tarsos (Gr), anide, (probably Constance) Sladen, who was respon- flat of the foot between the toes and the heel sible for funding the collection of mammals The species name refers to the small foot. from the expedition (named in her husband's Lestodelphys halli (Thomas, 1921) memory) to the Mato Grosso of Brazil during lest—lestes (Gr), a robber + delph—delphys which this species was first collected. (Gr), the womb (Conisbee, 1953) halli—a proper name THE MAMMALS OF ARGENTINA: AN ETYMOLOGY 175 Micoureus demerarae (Thomas, 1905) Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839) demerarae—a proper name thylac—thylakos (Gr), pouch + mys (Gr), a The species name refers to the type locality, mouse (Palmer, 1904) Comaccka, 80 miles up Demerara River, Brit- elegans (L), elegant ish Guiana. The genus name refers to members of this genus as marsupial or pouched mice (Palmer, Monodelphis americana (Müller, 1776) 1904). The species name is self explanatory. mon—monos (Gr), single + delph—delphys (Gr), the womb (Palmer, 1904) Thylamys pallidior (Thomas, 1902) americana—pertaining to the New World pallid—pallidus (L), pallid + ior (L), mascu- The genus name refers to a single womb; the line and feminine comparative ending species name is self explanatory. The species name reflects the pale gray col- oration of the dorsum. Monodelphis brevicaudata (Erxleben, 1777) brev—brevis (L), short + caud—cauda (L), Thylamys pusilla (Desmarest, 1804) the tail + atus (L), an adjectival suffix mean- pusillus (L), very little ing "provided with" The species name is self explanatory. The species name is a reference to the short tail. Thylamys velutinus (Wagner, 1842) velutinus (ML) velvety Monodelphis dimidiata (Wagner, 1847) The species name is a reference to the velvety dimidiatus (L), halved, divided fur. Wagner gave no explanation for the species name. Order Paucituberculata Family Caenolestidae Monodelphis domestica (Wagner, 1842) Rhyncholestes raphanurus (Osgood, 1924) domesticus (L), of a house or household rhynch—rhynchos (Gr), snout + lest—lestes Wagner discussed that the type of this species (Gr), a robber (Conisbee, 1953, Gotch, 1979) was captured in Cuyaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil, raphan—raphanos (Gr) a radish + ur—oura where it is frequently found in houses. (Gr), tail (Gotch, 1979) The prefix of the generic name is a reference Monodelphis scalops (Thomas, 1888) to its elongated snout. The suffix of the ge- scalop—skalops (Gr), a mole neric name is a long-used name for ancient, The species name is in reference to the predatory marsupials; the species name refers molelike aspects of the species. to the tail, which when thickened or incrassated at the base gives the appearance of a radish Monodelphis sorex (Hensel, 1872) (Gotch, 1979). This species, as do many other sorex (L), a shrew-mouse marsupials, stores fat in the tail during winter. The species name is an allusion to the Order Microbiotheria shrewlike appearance of this opossum; the Family Microbiotheriidae common name is shrewish short-tailed opos- Dromiciops gliroides Thomas, 1894 sum. dromicia—a genus in the family Phalangeridae + ops—opsis (Gr), appearance (Palmer, 1904) Philander opossum (Linnaeus, 1758) glir—glis, genitive gliris (L), dormouse + oid phil—philos (Gr), loving + andr—aner, = -oides, a contraction of Gr -o + eidos denot- genitive andros (Gr), man (Palmer, 1904) ing likeness of form opossum—North American Indian word mean- The genus name is a reference to its similarity ing "white beast" in appearance to the Australian genus The genus name means "man loving"; the Dromicia (Palmer, 1904); the species name species name is self explanatory. 176 Janet K. Braun and Michael A. Mares refers to the animal' s similarity in appearance Cabassous tatouay (Desmarest, 1804) to a European dormouse. tatoua—tatu, a native name The species name comes from the native name Order Xenarthra for this armadillo (Palmer, 1904) Family Bradypodidae Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825 Chaetophractus nationi (Thomas, 1894) brady—bradys (Gr), slow + pus—pous (Gr), chaet—chaeta (NL), hair, bristle + phract— foot (Palmer, 1904; Gotch, 1979) phraktos (Gr), protected (Palmer, 1904; Gotch, variegatus (L), of different colors 1979) The genus name reflects the slow locomotion nationi—a proper name of this species (Palmer, 1904; Gotch, 1979); The genus name means protected by hair, a the species name refers to the various colors reference to the hairiness of the members of of the pelage.