On
the origin of names
Most of you have heard of Carl von Linné, or Carolus Linnaeus.
Not many of you
have probably heard of Petrus Artedi, ichtyologist and close friend of
Linnaeus. While in the Netherlands Artedi fell into a canal and
drowned. Linnaeus, who had been given copies of Artedi's works,
posthumously published these. Together the works of these swedish
scientists set the rules of nomenclature and systematics still viable
to this
very day.
On Artedi's grave, an epitaph by George Shaw is engraved:
Not a man nor a fish, but something betwixt,
Not a man, for his life among fishes he past,
Not a fish, for he perished by water at last.
Names of species are binominal, they consist of two words, a capitalized generic name and a specific name, e.g. Petrochromis orthognathus.
Names of subspecies are trinominal, they consist of three words, a capitalized generic name, a specific name and a subspecific name, e.g. Petrochromis trewavasae ephippium.
The ending of the name of an animal group is a clue to the hierarchy.
-iformes are orders
-oidea are suborders
-idae are families
-inae are subfamilies
-ini are tribes
Every family must contain one genus that bears the same root, e.g. Canis is the basis for Canidae.
A specific name ending in -i (-ii) is a patronym, e.g. if you name a species after a man called Mr Mattsson, you could get Petrochromis mattssoni.
A specific name ending in -ae is a matronym, e.g. if you name a species after a woman called Mrs Mattsson, you could get Petrochromis mattssonae.
A specific name ending in -ensis refers to a place, e.g. if you name
a species after the city of Stockholm, you could get Homo stockholmensis.
Below is a list where I have tried to dissect the actual meaning of the scientific names of the different animal groups. I started from Metazoa and worked my way down through the Protostomia branch. After that I took on the Deuterostomia branch. Therefore the order is not alphabetical. Most of these words are latin or greek in origin.
Metazoa meta (after) + zoa (animal)
Choanoflagellata
choan (funnel) + flagellum
Porifera
porus (pore) + ferre (to bear)
Hexactinellida
hex (six) + actin (ray)
Calcarea
calcareous
Epitheliozoa
epithelium + zoa (animal)
Ctenophora
cten (comb) + phor (to carry)
Placozoa
plac (plate) + zoa (animal)
Planulozoa
plan (flat) + zoa (animal)
Cnidaria
cnidocyte
Anthozoa
antho (flower) + zoa (animal)
Hydrozoa
hydr (water) + zoa (animal)
Scyphozoa
scyph (cup) + zoa (animal)
Cubozoa
cube + zoa (animal)
Stauromedusae
stauro (upright) + Medusa (ref. mythology; a gorgon)
Myxozoa
myxo (slime) + zoa (animal)
Bilateria
bi (two) + lateri (sideways)
Acoela
a (without) + coel (body cavity)
Nemertodermatida Nemertes
(ref. mythology; one of the
nereids) + derm (skin)
Xenoturbellida
xen (stranger) + turb (commotion)
Nephrozoa
nephridium + zoa (animal)
Protostomia
prot (first) + stom (mouth)
Deuterostomia
deutero (second) + stom (mouth)
Gastrotricha
gastro (stomach) + tricha (hair)
Cycliophora
cycl (circular) + phor (turning)
Chaetognatha
chaeto (spine, bristle) + gnatha (jaw)
Gnathifera
gnath (jaw) + fer (to carry)
Gnathostomulida
gnatho (jaw) + stom (mouth)
Micrognathozoa
micro (small) + gnatho (jaw) + zoa (animal)
Seisonidea
seison (a planting) + ideo (class, species)
Acanthocephala
acantho (spiny) + cephal (head)
Rotifera
roti (wheel) + fer (to carry)
Lophotrochozoa
lophophore + trochozoa larvae
Lophophorata
lophophore
Trochozoa
trochozoa larvae
Ectoprocta
ecto (outside) + zoa (animal)
Entoprocta
ento (inside) + zoa (animal)
Platyhelminthes
platy (flat) + helminth (worm)
Catenulida
cat (downward, against)
Rhabditophora
rhabditophore
Neodermata
neo (new) + derm (skin)
Brachiopoda
brachio (arm) + poda (feet)
Rhynconelliformea
rhynco (snout, beak)
Linguliformea
lingu (tongue)
Craniiformea
crani (skull)
Phoronida
phoro (to carry)
Mollusca
moll (soft)
Gastropoda
gastro (stomach) + poda (feet)
Cephalopoda
cephal (head) + poda (feet)
Bivalvia
bi (two) + valvul (valve)
Scaphopoda
scapho (boat-shaped) + poda (feet)
Monoplacophora
mono (one) + plac (plate) + phor (to carry)
Polyplacophora
poly (many) + plac (plate) + phor (to carry)
Aplacophora
a (without) + plac (plate) + phor (to carry)
Coleoidea
coleo (sheath) + ideo (class, species)
Nautiloidea
Nautilus (ref. literature; Jules Verne) +
ideo (class, species)
Ammonoidea
ammo (sand) + ideo (class, species)
Orthoceras
ortho (straight) + cera (horn)
Endoceras
endo (within) + cera (horn)
Neomphalina
neo (new) + omphalo (navel)
Patellogastropoda
patella (small dish) + gastro
(stomach) + poda (feet)
Caenogastropoda
caeno (new) + gastro (stomach) +
poda (feet)
Neritimorpha
Neritos (ref. mythology; Ithaca) + morpha
(shape)
Cocculiniformea
cochl (shell)
Vetigastropoda
vetus (old) + gastro (stomach) + poda (feet)
Heterobranchia
hetero (different) + branchi (gills)
Nemertea
Nemertes (ref. mythology; one of the
nereids)
Annelida
annul (ring)
Polychaeta
poly (many) + chaeta (spine, bristle)
Clitellata
clitellum
Hirudinea
hirudin (leech)
Echiura
echis (viper) + ura (tail)
Sipunculida
sipho (tube)
Ecdysozoa
ecdysis + zoa (animal)
Loricifera
lorica
Kinorhyncha
kino (motion) + rhynco (snout, beak)
Priapulida
Priapos (ref. mythology; greek god)
Nematoda
nemato (thread)
Nematomorpha
nemato (thread) + morpha (shape)
Tardigrada
tardus (slow) + gradus (step)
Onychophora
onycho (claw) + phor (to carry)
Arthropoda
arthron (joint) + poda (feet)
Chelicerata
chelicer
Crustacea
crust (to stretch) + acea (belonging to)
Myriapoda
myria (countless) + poda (feet)
Hexapoda
hex (six) + poda (feet)
Pycnogonida
pycno (thick) + gono (gonads)
Xiphosura
xipho (sword) + ura (tail)
Eurypterida
eury (wide) + pterid (feather, wing)
Arachnida
arach (spider)
Araneae
arach (spider)
Ophistothelae
ophisto (posterior) + thel (nipples)
Mesothelae
meso (middle) + thel (nipples)
Mygalomorphae
Mygal (ref. mythology; medieval britain) + morpha
(shape)
Scorpiones
scorpionem (scorpion)
Opiliones
op (eye) + pili (hair)
Acari
acari
(tiny spider)
Solifugae
sol (sun) + fuge (run away)
Pseudoscorpiones
pseudo (false) + scorpion
Ricinulei
ricinum (tick)
Palpigradi
palpi (to touch gently) + grad (walk)
Amblypygi
ambly (blunt) + pygi (buttocks)
Thelyphonida
thely (female) + phon (murder)
Schizomida
schizo (split)
Remipedia
remiped, oarshaped feet
Cephalocarida
cephal (head)
Phyllocarida
phyllo (leaf)
Syncarida
syn (together)
Hoplocarida
haplo (simple)
Pericarida
peri (near)
Eucarida
eu (good, normal)
Malacostraca
malaco (soft)
Eumalacostraca
eu (good, normal) + malaco (soft)
Decapoda
deca (ten) + poda (feet)
Maxillopoda
maxillae + poda (feet)
Copepoda
copi (abundance) + poda (feet)
Branchipoda
branchi (gills) + poda (feet)
Cirripedia
cirri (fringe) + pedia (feet)
Ostracod
ostraco (oyster)
Chilopoda
chilo (lips) + poda (feet)
Diplopoda
diplo (double) + poda (feet)
Symphyla
sym (together with) + phyla (race, class)
Pauropoda
pauro (small) + poda (feet)
Hexapoda
hex (six) + poda (feet)
Entognatha
ento (inside) + gnatha (jaw)
Ectognatha
ecto (outside) + gnatha (jaw)
Dicondylia
with dicondylic mandibles
Pterygota
pter (wing)
Neoptera
neo (new) + pter (wing)
Paleoptera
pale (old) + pter (wing)
Paraneoptera
para (near) + neo (new) + pter (wing)
Polyneoptera
poly (many) + neo (new) + pter (wing)
Holometabola
holo (complete) + metabola (change)
Elliplura
el (inward) + ura (tail)
Protura
prot (original) + ura (tail)
Diplura
di (two) + ura (tail)
Collembola
coll (neck) + bola (throw)
Archeognatha
archeo (ancient) + gnatha (jaw)
Zygentoma
zyg (yoke)
Ephemeroptera
hemero (day) + pter (wing)
Odonata
odon (teeth)
Epiprocta
epi (above) + proct (anus)
Zygoptera
zygos (joining) + pter (wing)
Plecoptera
plec (to turn) + pter (wing)
Embioptera
embio (living) + pter (wing)
Zoraptera
zo (animal) + pter (wing)
Grylloblattodea
gryllo (cricket) + blatta
(cockroach)
Mantophasmatodea man
(hand) + phas (to appear)
Dermaptera
derm (skin) + pter (wing)
Mantodea
man (hand)
Blattodea
blatta (cockroach)
Isoptera
iso (equal) + pter (wing)
Orthoptera
ortho (straight) + pter (wing)
Caelifera
caelare (to engrave in relief)
Ensifera
ensis (sword)
Phasmatodea
phas (to appear)
Psocoptera
psokos (gnawed, ) + pter (wing)
Thysanoptera
thysanos (fringe) + pter (wing)
Phthiraptera
phtheir (louse) + pter (wing)
Hemiptera
hemi (half) + pter (wing)
Heteroptera
hetero (different) + pter (wing)
Auchenorhyncha
auches (neck) + rhynco (snout, beak)
Sternorrhyncha
sterno (chest) + rhynco (snout, beak)
Megaloptera
megalo (big) + pter (wing)
Raphidioptera
raph (seam) + di (two) + pter (wing)
Neuroptera
neuro (nerve) + pter (wing)
Coleoptera
coleo (sheath) + pter (wing)
Diptera
di (two) + pter (wing)
Strepsiptera
strepsi (to twist) + pter (wing)
Mecoptera
meco (long) + pter (wing)
Trichoptera
tricho (hair) + pter (wing)
Lepidoptera
lepido (scale) + pter (wing)
Hymenoptera
hymen (membrane) + pter (wing)
Brachycera
brachy (short) + cera (horn)
Nematocera
nemato (thread) + cera (horn)
Siphonaptera
siphon (tube) + pter (wing)
Archostemata
archeo (ancient)
Myxophaga
myxo (slime) + phaga (eat)
Adephaga
ad (towards) + phaga (eat)
Polyphaga
poly (many) + phaga (eat)
Apocrita
apo (seperate)
Symphyta
sym (together with)
Zeugloptera
Zeus (?) / zeugma (joining)? + pter (wing)
Aglossata
a (without) + glossa (tongue)
Heterobathmiina
hetero (different) + bathm (rank)
Glossata
glossa (tongue)
Chordata
chorda (cord)
Hemichordata
hemi (half) + chorda (cord)
Echinodermata
echino (spiny) + derm (skin)
Crinoidea
crino (hair) + ideo (class, species)
Asteroidea
aster (star) + ideo (class, species)
Ophiuroidea
ophio (snake) + ideo (class, species)
Echinoidea
echino (spiny) + ideo (class, species)
Holothuroidea
holothuria (water polyp) + ideo (class, species)
Diploporita
dipla (double) + pori (opening)
Enteropneusta
entero (gut) + pneu (lung)
Pterobranchia
pter (wing) + branchi (gills)
Graptolithina
graph (to write) + lithos (sten)
Urochordata
uro (tail) + chorda (cord)
Cephalochordata
cephal (head) + chorda (cord)
Myxini
myx (slime)
Vertebrata
vertebro (joint)
Petromyzontida
petro (stone) + myzo (to suckle)
Conodonta
con (with) + odonto (teeth)
Anaspid
an (without) + aspid (shield)
Pteraspidomorphi
pter (wing) + aspid (shield) +
morpha (shape)
Arandaspida
aran (spider) + aspid (shield)
Astraspida
astro (star) + aspid (shield)
Heterostraci
hetero (different) + ostra (hard shell)
Thelodonti
thel (nipples) + odonto (teeth)
Galeaspida
galea (helmet) + aspid (shield)
Pituriaspida
pit (aim for) + uri (water) + aspid (shield)
Osteostraci
osteo (bone) + ostra (hard shell)
Gnathostomata
gnatho (jaw) + stoma (mouth)
Placodermii
plac (plate) + derm (skin)
Chondrichtyes
chondro (cartilage) + ichtys (fish)
Holocephali
holo (complete) + cephal (head)
Elasmobranchii
elasmo (to strike) + branchi (gills)
Galea
galea
(leather, helmet)
Squalea
squalid
Batoidea
bat (to strike) + ideo (class, species)
Osteichtyes
osteo (bone) + ichtyes (fish)
Actinopterygii
actin (ray) + pteryg (wing)
Polypteriformes
poly (many + pter (wing) + form
(shape)
Chondrostei
chondro (cartliage) + osteo (bone)
Lepisosteiformes
lepido (scale) + osteo (bone) +
form (shape)
Amiiformes
ami (friend) + form (shape)
Halecostomi
hal (the sea) + costo (coast)
Teleostei
tele (far away) + osteo (bone)
Euteleostei
eu (good, normal) + tele (far away) + osteo
(bone)
Osteoglossomorpha osteo
(bone) + glosso (tongue) +
morpha (shape)
Elopomorpha
ellops (serpent) + morpha (shape)
Otocephala
oto (ear) + cephal (head)
Sarcopterygii
sarco (flesh) + pteryg (wing)
Tetrapoda
tetra (four) + poda (feet)
Dipnoi
di (two) + pneu (lung)
Coelacanthimorpha coel
(body cavity) + acantho (spiny)
+ morpha (shape)
Amphibia
amphi (both) + bia (life)
Anura
a
(without) + ura (tail)
Caudata
caudo (tail)
Apoda
a
(without) + poda (feet)
Reptilia
reptil (creeping)
Anapsida
ana (up) + apsid (shield)
Testudines
testud (turtle)
Pleurodira
pleuro (side)
Cryptodira
crypto (hidden)
Diapsida
di (two) + apsid (shield)
Ichtyosauria
ichtyes (fish) + sauria (lizard)
Archosauria
archaeo (ancient) + sauria (lizard)
Crocodylomorpha
cocodrillus (crocodile) + morpha
(shape)
Pterosauria
pter (wing) + sauria (lizard)
Dinosauria
dino (terrible) + sauria (lizard)
Ornithischia
ornitheos (of a bird) + ischion (hip)
Saurischia
sauria (lizard) + ischion (hip)
Thyreophora
θυρεος (shield) +
φορεω (I carry) / phor (to
carry)
Marginocephalia
marginus (edge) + cephal (head)
Ornithopoda
ornis (bird) + poda (feet)
Sauropodomorpha
sauria (lizard) + poda (feet) +
morpha (shape)
Theropoda
thero (beast) + poda (feet)
Lepidosauromorpha lepido
(scale) + sauria (lizard) +
morpha (shape)
Iguania
iguana
Gekkota
gekko
Amphisbaenia
amphi (both) / ἀμφίς (both
ways) + βαίνω (I go)
Serpentes
serpent
Anguimorpha
angui (serpent) +morpha (shape)
Scincomorpha
skink + morpha (shape)
Mosasauria
Mosa (ref. geography; Meuse river) + sauria
(lizard)
Sauropterygia
sauria (lizard) + pteryg (wing)
Sphenodontia
spheno (wedge-shaped bone) + odonto (teeth)
Synapsida
syn (with) +apsid (shield)
Pelycosauria
pelyco (basin) + sauria (lizard)
Therapsida
thero (beast) +apsid (shield)
Theriodonta
thero (beast) + odonto (teeth)
Cynodontia
cyno (dog) + odonto (teeth)
Mammalia
mamm (breast)
Monotremata
mono (one) + tream
Ornithorhyncidae
ornis (bird) + rhynco (snout,
beak)
Tachyglossus
tachy (fast) + glosso (tongue)
Zaglossus
za (elder woman?) + glosso (tongue)
Marsupialia
marsup (pouch)
Australidelphia
austral (south) + delph (womb)
Ameridelphia
America + delph (womb)
Didelphimorphia
di (two) + delph (womb) + morpha
(shape)
Paucituberculata
paucus (little) + tuber (node)
Diprotodontia
di (two) + prot (first) + odonto (teeth)
Vombatiformes
wombat + form (shape)
Macropodiformes
macro (large) + poda (feet) + form
(shape)
Phalangeriformes
phalang (bone between two joints
of a finger/toe) + form (shape)
Dasyuromorphia
dasy (hairy) + uro (tail) + morpha (shape)
Peramelemorphia
per (through) + mel (honey) +
morpha (shape)
Microbiotheria
micro (small) + bio (life) + theria (animal)
Notoryctemorphia
noto (south, back)+ morpha (shape)
Placentalia
placenta (flat cake)
Afrotheria
Africa + theria (animal)
Xenarthra
xeno (strange) + arthro (joint)
Boreoeutheria
boreo (north) + eu (normal) + theria (animal)
Laurasiatheria
Laurasia + theria (animal)
Euarchontoglires
eu (true) + archo (origin) +
glires (mouse)
Tubulidentata
tub (pipe) + denta (teeth)
Proboscidea
pro (in front of) + bosci (to graze) + ideo
(class, species)
Hyracoidea
ύραξ (shrew) + ideo (class, species)
Sirenia
Siren (ref. mythology; greek,
seductress monster)
Macroscelida
macro (large) + skelis (hind leg)
Tenrecoidea
tenrec + ideo (class, species)
Cingulata
cingere (encircle)
Pilosa
pilo (hair)
Folivora
foli (leaf) + vora (eat)
Vermilingua
vermi (worm) + lingua (tongue)
Lipotyphla
lip (fat) + typhlos (blind)
Erinaceidae
erinaceus (hedgehog)
Talpidae
talpa (mole)
Soricidae
sorex (shrew-mouse)
Solenodontidae
solen (tube, pipe) + odonto (teeth)
Chiroptera
chiro (hand) + pter (wing)
Microchiroptera
micro (small) + chiro (hand) +
pter (wing)
Megachiroptera
mega (big) + chiro (hand) + pter (wing)
Cetacea
ceti (whale) + acea (belonging to)
Arctiodactyla
arct (northern) + dactyl (finger, toe)
Cetarctiodactyla
ceti (whale) + arct (northern) +
dactyl (finger, toe)
Mysticeti
myst (secret) + ceti (whale)
Odontoceti
odonto (teeth) + ceti (whale)
Suiformes
sus (swine) + form (shape)
Ruminantia
ruminare (to chew the cud)
Tylopoda
tylo (a knob) + poda (feet)
Camelini
camel
Llamini
llama
Bovidae
bovo (cow)
Suidae
sus (swine)
Hippopotamidae
hippos (horse) + potamus (river)
Tayassuidae
tayassu (peccary) + sus (swine)
Tragulidae
tragos (goat)
Moschidae
moschos (a young bullock)
Cervidae
cervus (deer)
Cervoidea
cervus (deer) + ideo (class, species)
Antilocapridae
antholops (horned animal) + capri (goat)
Giraffoidea
giraffe + ideo (class, species)
Antilopinae
antholops (horned animal)
Caprinae
capri (goat)
Bovinae
bovo (cow)
Perissodactyla
perisso (odd-numbered) + dactyl (finger, toe)
Equidae
equus (horse)
Tapiridae
tapirus (tapir)
Rhinocerotidae
rhin (nose) + cera (horn)
Pholidota
pholis (scale) + oto (ear)
Carnivora
carni (flesh, meat) + vora (eat)
Herpestidae
herp (reptile) + pesti (plague)
Viverridae
viverra (ferret)
Hyaenidae
hyaena
Felidae
felis (cat)
Mustelidae
mustela (weasel)
Ursidae
ursus (bear)
Canidae
canis (dog)
Procyonidae
pro (before) + cyon (dog); ref. preceding the
”dog star” Sirius
Ailuridae
ailur (cat)
Pinnipedia
pinna (fin) + pedi (feet)
Odobenidae
odonto (teeth) + ben (good)
Otariidae
oto (ear)
Phocidae
phoca (seal)
Euarchonta
eu (true) + archo (origin)
Primates
primas (of the highest rank)
Catarrhini
καταρρινα
(hook-nosed) + καταρρέω
(down-flowing) + ῥινες
(nostrils)
Platyrrhini
plat (flat) + rhin (nose)
Hominoidea
homo (man)+ ideo (class, species)
Lagomorpha
lagos (hare) + morpha (shape)
Leporidae
lepus (hare)
Ochotonidae
ochotona (pika), oto (ear)
Rodentia
rodere (gnaw)
Anomaluromorpha
anomal (abnormal) + uro (tail) +
morpha (shape)
Castorimorpha
Castor (ref. mythology; Castor and Pollux, the
gemini) + morpha (shape)
Hystricomorpha
hystrix (porcupine) + morpha (shape)
Myomorpha
myo (muscle; ref. mouse) + morpha (shape)
Sciuromorpha
sciurus (squirrel) + morpha (shape)
Scandentia
scandere (climb)
Dermoptera
derm (skin) + pter (wing)
Lorisiformes
lori + form (shape)
Lemuriformes
lemur + form (shape)
Tarsiiformes
tars (feet) + form (shape)
Cercopithecidae
cerc (short tail) + pithecus
(ape)
Homo
homo
(man)