Sharp-tailed Tyrant

SCI Name:  Culicivora caudacuta
Protonym:  Muscicapa caudacuta Nouv.Dict.Hist.Nat. 21 p.455
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Tyrannidae / Culicivora
Taxonomy Code:  shttyr1
Type Locality:  Paraguay.
Author:  Vieillot
Publish Year:  1818
IUCN Status:  Vulnerable

DEFINITIONS

CULICIVORA
(Tyrannidae; † Sharp-tailed Tyrant C. caudacuta) L. culex, culicis  midge; -vorus  eating  < vorare  to devour; "CULICIVORA   ...   Bill short. Wings very short, rounded; the first and second quills graduated; third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, nearly equal and longest.  Tail slender, lengthened and graduated. Feet long, slender; lateral scales numerous.   Type Muscicapa stenura. Temm., Pl. col. pl. 167. f. 3.  ...  The length of the legs indicates some peculiar economy, of which, at present, we are ignorant. The bill does not materially differ from that of the last genus [Tyrannula], otherwise than in the tip not being so abruptly bent." (Swainson 1827); "Culicivora Swainson, 1827, Zool. Journ., 3, p. 359.  Type, by original designation, Muscicapa stenura Temminck = Muscicapa caudacuta Vieillot." (Traylor in Peters, 1979, VIII, p. 49).
Var. Cucilivora.
Synon. Hapalura, Stenura.
• (Polioptilidae; syn. Polioptila † Tropical Gnatcatcher P. plumbea atricapilla) "CULICIVORA, Sw.  Bill somewhat lengthened; the base depressed; the sides compressed; the culmen arched from the base; the tip notched.  Rictus with distinct bristles.  Wings very short; the first two quills only equally graduated.  Tail slender, graduated, and generally lengthened.  Tarsus long, slender.  Inner toe shortest.  Claws small, fully curved.   America only.   C. atricapilla. Zool. Ill. ii. pl. 57." (Swainson 1837); "Culicivora (not of Swainson, 1827) Swainson, Classif. Bds., 2, p. 243, 1837—type, by monotypy, Culicivora atricapilla Swainson" (Hellmayr, 1934, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. VII, p. 485).

culicivora / culicivorus
L. culex, culicis  midge; -vorus  eating  < vorare  to devour.

caudacuta / caudacutus
L. cauda  tail; acutus  sharp-pointed  < acuere  to sharpen to a point.
● ex “Sharp-tailed Oriole” of Latham 1782, and Pennant 1785 (Ammospiza).
● ex “Cola de agujas” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 227 (Culicivora).