Helmeted pygmy tyrant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Helmeted pygmy tyrant |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lophotriccus
|
| Species: |
galeatus
|
 |
|
The helmeted pygmy tyrant (scientific name: Lophotriccus galeatus) is a tiny bird. It belongs to the Tyrannidae family, also known as tyrant flycatchers. This small bird lives in parts of South America. You can find it in countries like Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It prefers to live in warm, wet lowland forests. It can also be found in areas where forests have been changed by people.
Contents
About the Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant
This bird gets its name from the small crest of feathers on its head. This crest can look a bit like a helmet. It is a very small bird, typical of the "pygmy tyrant" group. These birds are known for being active and quick. They often dart through the forest canopy.
How Scientists Name Animals
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to name and group living things. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about. The helmeted pygmy tyrant's scientific name is Lophotriccus galeatus.
Early Discoveries
A French scientist named Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon first described this bird. He wrote about it in 1780 in his book Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. He studied a bird sample found in Cayenne, French Guiana.
Giving the Scientific Name
Later, in 1783, a Dutch scientist named Pieter Boddaert gave the bird its first scientific name. He called it Montacilla galeata. Today, the helmeted pygmy tyrant is placed in the genus Lophotriccus. This genus was created by a German bird expert, Hans von Berlepsch, in 1883.
What the Name Means
The genus name Lophotriccus comes from two old Greek words. Lophos means "crest," which refers to the bird's small head feathers. Trikkos was a name for a small, unknown bird. In bird science, triccus is used for tyrant flycatchers. The species name galeatus is a Latin word meaning "helmeted." This also refers to the bird's crest.
