Narrow-billed Antwren

SCI Name:  Formicivora iheringi
Protonym:  Formicivora iheringi Rev.Franc.Orn. 1 p.98
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Thamnophilidae / Formicivora
Taxonomy Code:  nabant1
Type Locality:  Villa Nova, Serra Espinhago, Baia, Brazil.
Author:  Hellmayr
Publish Year:  1909
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

FORMICIVORA
(Thamnophilidae; Ϯ Southern White-fringed Antwren F. grisea) L. formica  ant; -vorus  -eating  < vorare  to devour; "It is at this stage of our progression that I propose to fix the limits of Thamnophilus, and pass into the genus Formicivora: here the bill is no longer robust; but narrow, slender, and more cylindrical; the under mandible weak, and the gonix nearly strait; the tail of some species is even longer and more cuneated than in the last group" (Swainson 1824); "FORMICIVORA.  Rostrum mediocre, subcylindraceum, gonyde recta; vibrissæ nullæ.  Alæ breves, rotundatæ, remige 4ta vel 5ta longissima.  Cauda gradata.  Tarsi mediocres, graciles; squamis lateralibus frequentibus.   ...   The Formicivoræ or Ant-Wrens, are all of them very small; and in an artificial arrangement might very well be associated with the Warblers. In all but their slender bill, they present a perfect miniature resemblance to the true Thamnophili, even to the lateral scales of their tarsi, which are small and numerous. They differ from the Drymophilæ by their comparatively short legs, which are obviously not intended for walking. We know little of their natural economy, further than that they frequent bushes and the low branches of trees, which they probably cleanse of those small insects, passed over by their more powerful brethren.   ...   1. FORMICIVORA maculata.  White-spotted Ant-Wren.   ...   2. FORMICIVORA nigricollis.  Black throated Ant-Wren.   ...   3. FORMICIVORA brevicauda.  Short tailed Ant-Wren." (Swainson 1825); "Formicivora Swainson, Zool. Journ., 1, 1824, p. 301, in text. Diagnosis only; species added, Swainson, Zool. Journ., 2, 1825, p. 145-149. Type, by subsequent designation, Formicivora nigricollis Swainson = Turdus griseus Boddaert (G. R. Gray, List Gen. Bds., 1840, p. 25)." (Peters, 1951, VII, p. 206).
Var. Formicivor.
Synon. Myrmecophila, Neorhopias, Stymphalornis.

formicivora
L. formica  ant; -vorus  -eating  < vorare  to devour.
● ex “Traquet Fourmilier” of Levaillant 1806, pl. 186 (Myrmecocichla).

iheringi
Hermann Friedrich Albrecht von Ihering (or Jhering) (1850-1930) German zoologist, collector in Brazil 1880-1920, founding Director of Museu Paulista, Brazil (subsp. Aegolius harrisii, Formicivora, Myrmotherula) (see jheringi).