These species were formerly included in the genus Myrmeciza. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2013 found that Myrmeciza was polyphyletic.[2] In the resulting rearrangement to create monophyletic genera, the two chestnut-tailed antbirds was moved to a newly erected genus Sciaphylax. The type species is the southern chestnut-tailed antbird.[1] The name of the new genus combines the Ancient Greek words skia "shadow" and phylax "a watcher".[2]