AQUATICAL•LATIN – the online etymology

The etymologies listed here are generally derived from the ones that I have generated for the AQUATICAL•LATIN, “Aquatic scientific names in the news …” section and from elsewhere on the site.

This is a work in progress and will grow over time.

Derivation of the etymology

In the first instance the scientific name has been referenced against a selection of classical Greek and Latin dictionaries to determine the meaning behind the name. Occasionally post-classical definitions are also included here.

Secondly, where ever possible, I have referred to the original description allowing the author to speak in his own words. Quotes from the original description are shown in “quotation marks”.

Thirdly, where the meaning of the name is not explicitly explained I have included the wording of the description which seems relevant to the name, terming the explanation as ‘likely’.

More tentative explanations are termed ‘possibly’ whilst those names (entries) with no obvious explanation other than the translation are left unexplained.

Lastly, a small number of names are listed as ‘etymology unknown’ and some as ‘etymology uncertain’.

A

acutorostrata – Latin, acut-, acutus, sharpened, pointed, sharp, cutting; -o-, connective vowel; -rostrata, rostratus, having a beak, hooked, with a crooked point, beaked, with a curved front. Species of Rorqual whale belonging to the family Balaenopteridae: Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepede, 1804, commonly known as the Common minke whale. Name alluding to the shape of the head.

aeglefinus – etymology uncertain, may be derived from the French word for Haddock, aiglefin, which may, in turn be derived from the Greek, aigle (αιγλη), sunlight, gleam; shining, gleaming. Species of fish belonging to the family Gadidae: Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly known as the Haddock.

aenigmaticus – Latin, like an enigma, obscure, enigmatic. Species of Ragfish belonging to the family Icosteidae: Icosteus aenigmaticus Lockington, 1880, commonly known as the Ragfish.

ampullatus – Latin, ampull-, ampulla, a vessel with two handles, a flask, bottle, jar; -atus, suffix indicating possession or likeness. Species of Bottlenose whale belonging to the family Ziphiidae: Hyperoodon ampullatus (Forster, 1770), commonly known as the Northern bottlenose whale. Name likely alluding to the shape and the common name of the time, “… is called by the sailors Bottle-nose … has a head like a bottle…”

Architeuthis – Latin, Archi-; Greek, αρχω, αρχων, chief, principal, first in authority or order (post-classical); -teuthis (τευθις), squid, cuttlefish. Loosely speaking – first squid over all other squid. Genus of giant squid belonging to the family Architeuthidae. Species include Architeuthis dux Steenstrup, 1857, commonly known as the giant squid.

atlanticum – Latin, atlanticus, of the Atlas mountains – Atlas, Atlantis, western limits of the classical Old World; of or from the Atlantic Ocean (modern). Species of pyrosome belonging to the family Pyrosomidae: Pyrosoma atlanticum Péron, 1804.

B

Balaena – Latin, balaena, a whale. Genus of whales belonging to the family Balaenidae.

Balaenoptera – Latin, Balaen-, balaena, a whale; -o-, connective vowel; -ptera, Greek, pteron (πτερον), wing, fin. Genus of Rorqual whales belonging to the family Balaenopteridae. Name alludes to the long wing-like pectoral fins generally characteristic of the genus.

Barbatula – Latin, diminutive form of barbatus, with a small beard; having a small or foppish beard; name is a reference to the three pairs of mouth barbels. Species of Carp belonging to the family Nemacheilidae: Barbatula barbatula Linnaeus, 1758 commonly known as the Stone loach. The name is an example of a tautonym, where both genus and species name are the same.

briangreenei – Latinized name. Species of fishing spider belonging to the family Pisauridae: Dolomedes briangreenei (Raven, 2016). Honouring Brian Greene, a leading theoretical physicist and co-founder of the World Science Festival.

bugensis – etymology unknown, -ensis, indicates name is a toponym. Species of mussel belonging to the family Dreissenidae: Dreissena bugensis (Andrusov, 1897), commonly known as the Quagga Mussel.

C

carcharias – Greek, καρχαριας, shark, so called from its saw-like teeth. Species of Mackerel shark belonging to the family Lamnidae: Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly known as the Great white shark or White pointer. Linnaeus’s original name for the species before it was moved to the more recent genus was Squalus carcharia (Squalus – Latin, a kind of sea-fish (classical); shark (scientific Latin)) – loosely speaking, shark with saw-like teeth.

Carcharodon – Greek, Carchar-, carcharos (καρχαρος), saw-like, jagged; -odon (οδον), odous (οδους), tooth; καρχαροδους, with saw-like teeth. Genus of Mackerel sharks belonging to the family Lamnidae. Species include Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758), the Great white shark or White pointer.

cataracta – Latin, a waterfall. Species of centipede belonging to the family Scolopendridae: Scolopendra cataracta Siriwut, Edgecombe & Panha, 2016, commonly known as the Waterfall or Swimming Centipede. Named for the Tad E-tu Waterfall where the type was collected.

churro – Spanish, a type of fried pastry. Species of Xenacoelomorph belonging to the family Xenoturbellidae: Xenoturbella churro Rouse, Wilson, Carvajal & Vrijenhoek, 2016. The species is uniformly orange-pink in colour with four deep longitudinal furrows that reminded the authors of a churro, a fried-dough pastry popular in Spain and Latin America.

Cetorhinus – Greek, Ceto-, khtos (κητος), any sea monster, sea monster slain by Perseus (mythology), huge fish, whale; -rhinus, rinos, ris (ρις), nose, snout. Genus of Basking sharks belonging to the family Cetorhinidae. Species include Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765), the Basking shark. Name likely referring to the protuberant snout.

Clibanarius – Latin, a soldier clad in mail, a cuirassier. Likely alluding to the gastropod shell used by the crab for shelter. Genus of hermit crabs belonging to the family Diogenidae. Species include Clibanarius erythropus (Latreille, 1818), commonly known as the Mediterranean hermit crab.

D

densirostris – Latin, densi-, densus, dense; -rostris, rostrum, beak, bill; snout, muzzle. Species of Beaked whale belonging to the family Ziphiidae: Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville, 1817, commonly known as Blainville’s beaked whale. French zoologist Henri de Blainville first described the species in 1817 from a small piece of jaw – the heaviest bone he had ever come across – which resulted in the name densirostris (Latin for “dense beak”)

dewysea – Latinized name. Species of Seadragon belonging to the family Syngnathidae: Phyllopteryx dewysea Stiller, Wilson, & Rouse, 2015, commonly known as the Ruby seadragon. Honouring, “… Mary ‘Dewy’ Lowe, for her love of the sea and her support of seadragon conservation and research, without which this new species would not have been discovered.” Of the Lowe Family Foundation.

Didemnum, Greek, Di-, di (δι), two; -demnum (δεμνιον), bedstead, mattress, bed, bedding. Genus of colonial tunicates belonging to the family Didemnidae. Species include Didemnum vexillum (Kott, 2002), the Carpet Sea-squirt.

Dikerogammarus, – Greek, Di-, di (δι), two; -kero-, keras, horn; -gammarus, kammaros (καμμαρος), lobster. Genus of gammarids belonging to the family Gammaridae. Species include Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1841), the Demon shrimp, and Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894), the Killer shrimp.

dinema – Greek, di- (δι), two; -nema, nhma (νημα), that which is spun, thread, filament. Species of Wolftrap angler belonging to the family Thaumatichthyidae: Lasiognathus dinema Pietsch & Sutton, 2015. Name referring to two thread- like prolongations arising from base of escal hooks.

Dolomedes – Greek, dolomhdhs (δολομηδης), wily, crafty; alluding to its method of hunting for prey. Genus of fishing spiders belonging to the family Pisauridae. Species include Dolomedes briangreenei (Raven, 2016).

Dreissena – Latinized surname. Genus of bivalves belonging to the family Dreissenidae. Species include Dreissena bugensis (Andrusov, 1897), the Quagga Mussel. Honouring M. Driessens, a pharmacist at Mazeyk, from whom Van Beneden (who described the genus), had received a consignment of live molluscs.

dux – Latin, commander, ruler, leader, chief, head. Species of giant squid belonging to the family Architeuthidae: Architeuthis dux Steenstrup, 1857, commonly known as the giant squid.

E

Emiliania – Latinized surname. Genus of coccolithophores belonging to the family Noelaerhabdaceae. Species include Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) W.W.Hay & H.P.Mohler, 1967. Honouring Italian-American geologist and micropaleontologist Cesare Emiliani, (1922 – 1995), the founder of paleoceanography.

enyae – Eponym. Species of Headstander belonging to the family Anostomidae: Leporinus enyae Burns, Chatfield, Birindelli, & Sidlauskas, 2017. “Named in honor of the singer Enya, whose beautiful song “Orinoco Flow” celebrates the flow of the mighty Orinoco River, which the new species inhabits.”

erythropus – Greek, erythro-, eruthros (ερυθρος), red; -pus, pous (πυος), foot – with red feet, red-footed, red-legged. Species of hermit crab belonging to the family Diogenidae: Clibanarius erythropus (Latreille, 1818), commonly known as the Mediterranean hermit crab.

G

Gecarcinus – Greek, Ge-, gh (γη), earth, ground, land; -carcinus, karkinos (καρκινος), crab. Genus of terrestrial or land crab belonging to the family Gecarcinidae. Species include Gecarcinus ruricola (Linnaeus, 1758) variously called the Purple Land Crab, Black Land Crab, or Red Land Crab

grandiflora – Latin, grandi-, grandis, large, great; -flora, the goddess of flowers; grandiflora, with large flowers. Species of plant belonging to the family Onagraceae: Ludwigia grandiflora, commonly known as the Water Primrose.

H

haemobaphes, – Greek, haemo-, haima (αιμα), blood-red; -baphes (βαφη), a dipping in dye, dyeing, dye. Species of gammarid belonging to the family Gammaridae: Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1841), commonly known as the Demon shrimp.

herrei – Latinized surname. Species of frog belonging to the family Micrixalidae: Micrixalus herrei (Myers, 1942), commonly known as the Indian dancing frog. Honouring Dr. Albert W. Herre (1868 – 1962), Curator of Ichthyology in the Natural History Museum of Stanford University.

huxleyi – Latinized surname. Species of coccolithophore belonging to the family Noelaerhabdaceae: Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) W.W.Hay & H.P.Mohler, 1967. Honouring English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley, (1825 – 1895), popularly known as Darwin’s Bulldog for his advocacy of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Hyperoodon – Greek, Hypero-, hyperoon (υπερων), the upper part of the mouth, the palate; -odon, odous (οδους), tooth. Genus of whales belonging to the family Ziphiidae. Species include Hyperoodon ampullatus (Forster, 1770), the Northern bottlenose whale. “Hyperoon, in Greek, means palate; and odos means tooth.”  Named in reference to the presence of teeth on the surface of the palate.

I

Icosteus – Greek, Ic-, eikw (εικω), yield, give way; -osteus (οστεον), bone; loosely speaking – yielding bones. Genus of Ragfishes belonging to the family Icosteidae. Species include Icosteus aenigmaticus Lockington, 1880, the Ragfish. From the original description where the derivation of the common name can be seen: “Etymology: εικω, to yield; οστεον, bone.”

incendius – Latin, incendium, a burning, fire, conflagration. Species of Goby belonging to the family Gobiidae: Palatogobius incendius Tornabene, Robertson & Baldwin, 2017, commonly known as the Ember Goby. “The specific epithet incendius is an adjective formed from the Latin root incendium meaning ‘fire.’ The scientific and proposed common names refer to the bright orange, yellow and reddish-pink coloration on the body, head and fins.”

K

Kogia – Etymology uncertain; possibilities include a reference to a Cogia Effendi, a Turkish naturalist who observed whales in the Mediterranean Sea in the early 1800s, a latinized form of “codger” (although this may be back-formed from Kogia), or maybe a meaningless or nonsense word. Genus of Toothed whales belonging to the family Physeteridae. Species include Kogia sima Owen, 1866,  the Dwarf sperm whale

L

lacerta – Latin, lizard. Species of Goby belonging to the family Gobiidae: Varicus lacerta Tornabene, Robertson, Baldwin, 2016, commonly known as the Godzilla goby. Named, “… in reference to the reptilian or saurian appearance of this species, as indicated by its bright yellow and orange coloration, green eyes, disproportionately large head possessing raised ridges of papilla, and multiple rows of recurved canine teeth in each jaw.”

Lasiognathus – Greek, Lasio-, lasios (λασιος), shaggy, wooly, hairy; -gnathus, gnathos (γναθος), jaw. Genus of Wolftrap anglers belonging to the family Thaumatichthyidae. Species include Lasiognathus dinema Pietsch & Sutton, 2015. Name alluding to the huge number of long teeth of the upper jaw.

Leporinus – Latin, of or like a hare (classical – Pliny). Genus of Headstanders belonging to the family Anostomidae. Species include Leporinus enyae Burns, Chatfield, Birindelli, & Sidlauskas, 2017, and Leporinus villasboasorum Burns, Chatfield, Birindelli, & Sidlauskas, 2017. Named in allusion to the large teeth that protrude from the mouth, much like those of a rabbit.

Ludwigia – Latinized surname. Genus of plants belonging to the family Onagraceae. Species include Ludwigia grandiflora, the Water Primrose. Honouring Christian Gottlieb Ludwig (1709-1773). Genus named by Carl Linnaeus.

M

macdonaldi – Latinized surname. Species of Drum or croaker belonging to the family Sciaenidae: Totoaba macdonaldi (Gilbert, 1890), the Totoaba. Name likely honouring US fisheries scientist Marshall McDonald, (1835 – 1895), commissioner of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries (1888-1895).

macrocephalus – Greek, macro-, makros (μακρος), long, large; -cephalus, kefalos (κεφαλος), head; makrokephalos (μακροκεφαλος), long-headed; loosely speaking long-headed or big-headed. Species of Toothed whale belonging to the family Physeteridae: Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758, commonly known as the Sperm whale or Cachalot. The sperm whale’s very large head represents one-quarter to one-third of the animal’s overall length.

maximus – Latin, greatest, largest. Species of Basking shark belonging to the family Cetorhinidae: Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765), commonly known as the Basking shark. Name likely referring to overall size.

Megachasma – Greek, Mega-, megas (μεγας), large, great; -chasma, xasma (χασμα), yawning hole, open mouth. Genus of Megamouth sharks belonging to the family Megachasmidae. A single species, Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker, 1983, the Megamouth shark. Name alluding to the size of the mouth.

Meiacanthus – Greek, Mei-, meion (meiωn), lesser, less; -acanthus, akantha (ακaνθα), thorn. Genus of Blennies belonging to the family Blenniidae. Species include Meiacanthus nigrolineatus Smith-Vaniz, 1969, the Blackline fangblenny. Name alluding to the relatively few dorsal-fin spines in most species.

Melanogrammus – Greek, Melano-, melanos (μελανος), black, dark; -grammus, gramma (γραμμα), that which is drawn, stroke of a pen, a line; lined – likely referring to the presence of the dark lateral line. Genus of haddock belonging to the family Gadidae. Species include Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758), the Haddock.

Mesoplodon – Greek, mes-, mesos (μεσος), middle; -opl-, hoplon (οπλον), tool, implement, weapon, shield; -odon, odous (οδους), tooth, and may be translated as ‘armed with a tooth in the centre of the jaw’. Genus of Beaked whales belonging to the family Ziphiidae. Species include Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville, 1817, Blainville’s beaked whale.

Micrixalus – Greek, micr-, mikros (μικρος), small; -ixalus, an invalid genus, a common generic root in treefrog names; (ιξαλος) bounding, springing, spry (classical – applied to the ibex and wild goats) – small Ixalus. Genus of frogs belonging to the family Micrixalidae.

Mola – Latin, mill, millstone; grinders, molar-teeth. Genus of Molas belonging to the family Molidae. Species include Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), the Ocean sunfish and Mola tecta Nyegaard, 2017, the Hoodwinker sunfish. Name alluding to the fact that the fish is similar in shape to a millstone (G. Rondelet De Piscibus Marinis 1554).

mola – Latin, mill, millstone; grinders, molar-teeth. Species of Mola belonging to the family Molidae: Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly known as the Ocean sunfish. Name alluding to the fact that the fish is similar in shape to a millstone (G. Rondelet De Piscibus Marinis 1554). The reason for the double naming is not clear, in keeping with the etymology of the word mola it may be a reference to its thick rough skin or possibly to its dentition with its teeth fused to form a parrot-like beak.

mysticetus – Greek, μυστικητος, mysti-, mustac (μυσταξ), moustache, upper lip; -cetus (κητος), whale. Species of whale belonging to the family Balaenidae: Balaena mysticetus Linnaeus, 1758, commonly known as the Bowhead whale. A possible alternative etymology derives from the assumption that there has been a transmission or translation error in older editions of Aristotle’s Historia Animalium; whereas modern editions read ο μυς το κητος, “the whale known as the mouse” or “the ‘mouse’, i.e. the whale so called’ (maybe an ironic reference to the animals’ great size), earlier editions mistakenly ran the words together as ο μυστικητος, “the Mysticetus”. Ref. OED

N

nasus – Latin, nose. Likely referring to the protuberant snout. Species of Cusk-eel belonging to the family Ophidiidae: Typhlonus nasus Günther, 1878, commonly known as the Faceless Cusk.

Nematostella – Greek, Nemato-, nematos (νηματος), that which is spun, thread, filament; Latin, -stella, star. Genus of Sea anemones belonging to the family Edwardsiidae. Species include Nematostella vectensis Stephenson, 1935, the Starlet sea anemone. Name likely alluding to the thread-like form of the tentacles and the star-like markings surrounding the oral disc.

Nettorhamphos – Greek, Nett-, nhtta (νηττα), duck; -o-, connective vowel; -rhamphos, ramphos (ραμφος), bill, beak. Genus of Clingfishes belonging to the family Gobiesocidae. Species include Nettorhamphos radula Conway, Moore 2017, the Duckbilled Clingfish.

nigrolineatus – Latin, nigro-, niger, black, sable, dark, dusky; -lineatus, line. Species of Blenny belonging to the family Blenniidae: Meiacanthus nigrolineatus Smith-Vaniz, 1969, commonly known as the Blackline fangblenny. Name referring to the narrow black stripe extending from the rear of the eye along the base of the dorsal fin to the base of the tail which is the most distinctive characteristic of the species.

P

Palatogobius – Latin, Palat-, palate, roof of the mouth; -o-, connective vowel; –gobius, a fish of small value, the gudgeon (classical); a fish belonging to the family Gobiidae (modern). Genus of Gobies belonging to the family Gobiidae. Species include Palatogobius incendius Tornabene, Robertson & Baldwin, 2017, the Ember Goby. “The generic name Palatogobius is in reference to the teeth that may be present on the roof of the mouth.”

pelagios – Greek, (πελαγιος), of the open sea. Species of Megamouth shark belonging to the family Megachasmidae: Megachasma pelagios Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker, 1983, commonly known as the Megamouth shark.

Phocoena – Greek, phokaina (φωκαινα), porpoise. Genus of porpoises belonging to the family Phocoenidae. Species include Phocoena sinus Norris & McFarland, 1958, the Vaquita.

Phyllopteryx – Greek, Phyllo-, phyhllon (φυλλον), leaf; -pteryx, pteruc (πτερυξ), wing, fin. Genus of Seadragons belonging to the family Syngnathidae. Species include Phyllopteryx dewysea Stiller, Wilson, & Rouse, 2015, the Ruby seadragon. Name alludes to the small leaf-like appendages of the first named member of the genus, the Common or Weedy Seadragon.

Physeter – Greek, physhthr (φυσητηρ), blowpipe or tube, blow-hole or spiracle of whales, a kind of whale. Genus of Toothed whales belonging to the family Physeteridae. Species include Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758, commonly known as the Sperm whale or Cachalot.

pinkfloydi – Latinized name. Species of Snapping shrimp belonging to the family Alpheidae: Synalpheus pinkfloydi Anker, Hultgren, De Grave, 2015, commonly known as the Pink Floyd pistol shrimp. “Named after the well-known British rock band Pink Floyd, inspired by the bright pink-red claw of the new species.”

Potamotrygon – Greek, Potamo-, potamos (ποταμος), river, stream; Latin, trygon, (Greek τρυγων) a stingray. Genus of freshwater Stingrays belonging to the family Potamotrygonidae. Species include Potamotrygon rex Carvalho 2016.

Pseudanthias – Greek, Pseud-, pseudes (ψευδης), false; -anthias (ανθιας), a catch-all common name for fishes of the Anthiinae, referring back to the Greek, Anthias, a sea-fish (classical). Genus of Fairy basslets belonging to the family Serranidae. Species include Pseudanthias tequila Gill, Tea, & Senou, 2017, the Cave anthias (Japanese name: Bonin-hanadai).

Pseudochromis – Greek, Pseudo-, pseudes (ψευδης), false; -chromis (χρομις), genus Chromis, referring back to the Greek, Chromis, a sea-fish (classical). Genus of Dottybacks belonging to the family Pseudochromidae. Species include Pseudochromis stellatus Gill, Allen, & Erdmann, 2017, the Greenhead Dottyback.

Pyrosoma – Greek, Pyr- (πυρ), fire; -o-, connective vowel, -soma (σωμα), body. Genus of pyrosomes belonging to the family Pyrosomidae. Species include Pyrosoma atlanticum Péron, 1804. Name referring to the bright bioluminescence characteristic of the species.

R

radula – Latin, a scraping-iron, scraper. Species of Clingfish belonging to the family Gobiesocidae: Nettorhamphos radula Conway, Moore 2017, the Duckbilled Clingfish. Named, “In reference to the many tiny conical teeth on the lingual surface of the premaxilla and dentary, which are reminiscent of the radula of a snail.”

rex – Latin, absolute monarch, king. Species of freshwater Stingray belonging to the family Potamotrygonidae: Potamotrygon rex Carvalho 2016. Named for its large size and striking colour pattern.

ruricola – Latin, that lives in or belongs to the country, rural, rustic. Species of terrestrial or land crab belonging to the family Gecarcinidae: Gecarcinus ruricola (Linnaeus, 1758), variously called the Purple Land Crab, Black Land Crab, or Red Land Crab.

S

Scolopendra – Latin, (Greek σκολοπενδρα), a kind of multipede, millepede. Genus of centipedes belonging to the family Scolopendridae. Species include Scolopendra cataracta Siriwut, Edgecombe & Panha, 2016, the Waterfall or Swimming Centipede.

sima – Latin, simus, flat-nosed, snub-nosed. Species of Toothed whale belonging to the family Physeteridae: Kogia sima Owen, 1866, commonly known as the Dwarf sperm whale. Named, “… in reference to its peculiarly short obtuse muzzle.”

sinus – Latin, a bay, bight, gulf. Species of porpoise belonging to the family Phocoenidae: Phocoena sinus Norris & McFarland, 1958, commonly known as the Vaquita. “The specific name sinus was suggested to Norris and McFarland by Carl L. Hubbs and is Latin, meaning bay, referring to the occurrence of the species in the Gulf of California.”

stellatus – Latin, set with stars, starry. Species of Dottyback belonging to the family Pseudochromidae: Pseudochromis stellatus Gill, Allen, & Erdmann, 2017, the Greenhead Dottyback. “The specific epithet is from the Latin, meaning starry or starred, and alludes to the yellow spots on the upper part of the body. The name was selected by high school students as part of a science activity in the Macleay Museum.”

Synalpheus – Greek, Syn-, sun (συν), together, along with: -alpheus, Alpheios (Αλφειος), whitish; a river in Greek mythology; a river-god. Genus of Snapping shrimps belonging to the family Alpheidae. Species include Synalpheus pinkfloydi Anker, Hultgren, De Grave, 2015, the Pink Floyd pistol shrimp.

T

tecta – Latin, hidden; secret, concealed, disguised. Species of Mola or Ocean Sunfish belonging to the family Molidae: Mola tecta Nyegaard, 2017, the Hoodwinker sunfish. Name alluding to the species having been hiding in plain sight for centuries.

tequila – Spanish, a distilled alcoholic drink, named for the town in Mexico where it was originally made. “The specific epithet refers to the alcoholic beverage tequila sunrise, alluding to the vibrant life colours of the males of the species. Species of Fairy basslet belonging to the family Serranidae: Pseudanthias tequila Gill, Tea, & Senou, 2017, the Cave anthias (Japanese name: Bonin-hanadai

Totoaba – Eytmology unknown. Name likely of native American origin. Genus of Drums or croakers belonging to the family Sciaenidae. Species include Totoaba macdonaldi (Gilbert, 1890), the Totoaba.

Typhlonus – Greek, Typhl-, typhlos (τυφλος), blind; -onus, onos (ονος), hake (classical – Aristotle). Genus of Cusk-eels belonging to the family Ophidiidae. Species include Typhlonus nasus Günther, 1878, the Faceless Cusk.

V

Varicus – Latin, with feet spread out. Genus of Gobies belonging to the family Gobiidae. “… with feet spread out”, alluding to the form of the ventral fins. Species include Varicus lacerta Tornabene, Robertson, Baldwin, 2016, commonly known as the Godzilla goby.

vectensis – Latin, of, or coming, from the Isle of Wight; vectis, an island south of Britain (classical – Pliny). Species of Sea anemone belonging to the family Edwardsiidae: Nematostella vectensis Stephenson, 1935, commonly known as the Starlet sea anemone. The type locality for the species is at Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight.

vexillum – Latin, a military ensign, standard, banner, flag. Species of colonial tunicate belonging to the family Didemnidae: Didemnum vexillum (Kott, 2002), commonly known as the Carpet Sea-squirt.

villasboasorum – Eponym. Species of Headstander belonging to the family Anostomidae: Leporinus villasboasorum Burns, Chatfield, Birindelli, & Sidlauskas, 2017. “Named in honor of Orlando, Cláudio and Leonardo Villas-Bôas, in recognition of their pioneering efforts to conserve and protect the rio Xingu’s marvelous biodiversity, of which Leporinus villasboasorum forms part.”

villosus – Latin, hairy, shaggy, rough. Species of gammarid belonging to the family Gammaridae: Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894), commonly known as the Killer shrimp.

X

Xenoturbella – Greek, Xeno-, xenos (ξενος), a guest, stranger, foreigner; foreign, strange; Latin, turbella, a little crowd, a bustle, stir, diminutive of turba, crowd – referring to the cilia which produce minute whirls in the water. Genus of Xenacoelomorphs belonging to the family Xenoturbellidae. Species include Xenoturbella churro Rouse, Wilson, Carvajal & Vrijenhoek, 2016.

Last updated 2nd November 2017
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