ðə nˈeɪm "hˈɛɾɚɹˌoʊdɑːksə", mˈiːnɪŋ "vˈɛɹɪəbəl",  wʌz ɡˈɪvən tə ðə spˈiːsiːz baɪ dʒˈeɪ.ˈeɪ. stˈeɪɚmˌɑːɹk hˌuː hæd əbzˈɜːvd ðˈæt "kənsˈɪdɚɹəbəl vˌɛɹɪˈeɪʃən əkˈɜːz wɪðˌɪn ðɪs spˈiːsiːz".
The name "heterodoxa", meaning "variable",  was given to the species by J.A. Steyermark who had observed that "considerable variation occurs within this species".