English meaning of genus name Nyctidromus? (1 Viewer)

[Cristina_H]

I was wondering what is the definition of the Common Pauraque's genus name Nyctidromus is. I think that its species name albicollis means "white- tailed" or something along those lines (judging from the White-tailed Hawk's species name it would've been something more like albicaudatus. The Spanish word for "tail", however, is "cola", so...).

But I'm stumped with Nyctidromus. Does anybody here know or have a good guess?

 

[Strandman]

But I'm stumped with Nyctidromus. Does anybody here know or have a good guess?

the nycti- bit means night, which make sense

dromus is a bit trickier- you get dromus and derivatives in a few bird names (e.g. pterodroma)

so someone better informed may come along to help!

 

[foresttwitcher]

The 'drome' part of 'hippodrome' refers to a horse race or horse racing race course so may be 'night-runner' or something like that?

 

[AlfArbuthnot]

Nycti = night, from Greek nyktos
-dromus = to run, from Latin and Greek (dromous/dromos)

Nyctidromus = night-runner

albicollis = white collar

So 'white-collared night-runner'

 

[Jacana]

I was wondering what is the definition of the Common Pauraque's genus name Nyctidromus is. I think that its species name albicollis means "white- tailed" or something along those lines (judging from the White-tailed Hawk's species name it would've been something more like albicaudatus. The Spanish word for "tail", however, is "cola", so...).

But I'm stumped with Nyctidromus. Does anybody here know or have a good guess?

For future reference if you see caudat-us/a in a name it means tail and -cola means 'dweller'. E.g. Monticola = mountain-dweller; Pratincola = meadow-dweller.