Etymologies of Brazilian Amphibians

Herpetologia Brasileira - Suplemento 1
Pelorius: G. pelorios (πελώριος), (of living beings) of unusual or frightening size
or strength (with both positive and negative connots.). Pelorius Hedges,
1989. (“... From the Greek, Pelorios, meaning huge, prodigious, awe-inspiring;
referring to the large size of the species in this group, and the striking
appearance of some ...”). In the synonymy of Eleutherodactylus Duméril &
Bibron, 1841.
penaxavantinho: P. short for Pena Branca and Xavantinho, Brazilian singers (in
turn, from P. “pena branca”, white feather + P. “xavantinho”, diminutive
of T. xavante, related to the Xavantes, native Brazilian people that inhabits
some regions of the states of Mato Grosso and northwestern Goiás).
Ischnocnema penaxavantinho Giaretta et al., 2007. (“... The specific epithet
is an arbitrary fusion of two Portuguese words, pena (meaning feather)
and xavantinho (meaning little Xavante, a group of pre-colonization
natives). These names were used by two regional singer brothers (Pena
Branca and Xavantinho) who in their songs emphasized the beauty of the
Brazilian nature and the countryside way of life ...”].
pentadactylus: G. penta (πεντα), five + G. dactylos (δάκτυλος), finger, toe. Rana
pentadactyla Laurenti, 1768. (“... pedibus fasciatis pentadactylis ...”). Also
Cystignathus pentadactylus — Peters, 1872. Leptodactylus pentadactylus
pentadactylus — Müller, 1927. Leptodactylus (Pachypus) pentadactylus
— A. Lutz, 1930. Today Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Laurenti, 1768).
Peralaimos: G. pera (πηρᾰ), bag + G. laimos (λαιμός), throat. Peralaimos Jiménez
de la Espada, 1875. (“... machos con dos grandes sacos bucales ...”). In the
synonymy of Pleurodema Tschudi, 1838.
perere: P. [Saci] Pererê, Brazilian folkloric entity, personified in a one-legged
black boy, who wears a red cap, puffs on a pipe, makes mischief, frightens
visitors, and scares off cattle; from T. Yaci-Yaterê, fragment of the moon.
Hylodes perere Silva & Benmaman, 2008. [“... O nome perere (pererê em
Português) refere-se a um personagem do folclore dos índios do Brasil que
descreve uma entidade que guarda as florestas e perturba o silêncio com
assovios ou apitos. O nome é aqui utilizado em alusão à atividade de canto
da nova espécie que vocaliza durante o dia e também à noite ...”].
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