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(The Gist of Science Reporter) Naming Animals [MARCH-2019]

Naming Animals

Giving scientific animals or plants is known as binomial nomenclature. A taxon named specifically honouring a person or persons is known as patronym. Following the rules of Latin grammar, species or subspecies names derived from a man’s name often end in ‘I’ or ii’ and ‘orum’ if named for a group of men or mixed sex group.
Similarly those named for a woman often end in ‘ae’ or ‘arum’ for two or more women. The international Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is the widely accepted convention in Zoology. Animals or plants are named by the scientists who discover them. They can name them after the place they were discovered or name them in honour of a person. The problem of naming of animals was solved in 1753 by Carolus
Linnaeus, the Swedish biologist. He gave each species two word names made tip of genus name and species name. This method is still used by scientists today. Giving specific name to an animal to commemorate a significant person is also common. Let’s take a look at some animals that have been given names of presidents or the rulers of a country.
Neopalpa donaldtrumpi: A Canadian scientist Vazrick Nazari described a moth occurring in Southern California and northern Mexico, in the year 2017, and chose to name it after the latest US president Donald Trump as the moth’s head cover resembled the president's hair. The fore wings' upper surface of the moth is orange yellow except tor dark brown patches on the fringe and anterior portions of die wing.
Aptostichus barackobamai: It is a species of spider named after former US President Barack Obama. This species was first reported by Professor Jason Bond of Auburn University in December 2012. This species is endemic to California.
Agathidium bushi: Two former Cornell University embryologists Miller and Wheeler in the year 2005 named three species of slime mould beetles in the genus Agathidium that are new to science. One of the species is named after the then US president George Bush. This species is known from Southern Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia.
Pheidole roosevelti: An ant species endemic to the montane forests of Fiji islands prefers cooler, undisturbed wet forest of higher elevation mountains. Mann, an entomologist, in 1921 had the opportunity to give homage to the then President of US, Theodore Roosevelt who was an environmental activist also.
Anelosimus nelson: It is a species of spider found only in South Africa. It is named after the South African anti apartheid revolutionary politician and philanthropist Nelson Mandela who served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Agnarsson and Kutner in the year 2005 described this species and named it after the president.
Anophthalmus hitleri: It is a species of blind cave beetle, found only in the humid eaves in Slovenia. This species was made a dedication to Adolf Hitler, former Chancellor of Germany. The genus name denotes that this form has no eyes. Hitler was delighted for the honour of having a species named after him and he thanked Oscar Scheibel, the scientist who described the species in the year 1937.
Hyloscirtus prince charles: It is a species of tree-frog found in Ecuador, It is considered as an endangered species due to habitat loss. This species was described as new to science by Luis A. Coloma et al
in the year 2012 and named in honour of Prince Charles, recognizing the prince's work in advocating rain forest conservation. The prince used frogs as a symbol of his campaign to protect rainforests, particularly in Brazil and Indonesia.
Horaglanis abdulkalami: It is a blind cat fish with narrow elongated body. A research team including K.K.S, Babu of Jumma University, Ethiopia, were studying the organisms in the old wells in Irinjalakuda, in Thrissur, the southern Indian state of Kerala. They discovered a blind fish living in a deep well. This fish was named in honor of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam whose contribution to science had inspired the scientists. This fish is bright red in colour with no eyes and measures about 3.5 cm in length.
Pundamilia nyererei: It is a colourful cichlid fish, endemic to lake Victoria of Africa. This fish was described by WitteMaas and Witte in 1985 and to honour the Tanzanian leader Julius Kambarage Nyerere, his last name was given as species name of this fish.
Ornithoptera alexandrae: The largest butterfly in the world with females reaching a wingspan of ten inches. This species is restricted to the forests of Eastern Papua New Guinea. This species was named by Walter Rothschild in 1907 in honour of Alexander of Denmark. She was the Queen of UK and Empress of India as die wife of King Emperor Edward VII.
Acanthosquilla sirindhorn: This species is commonly known as Tiger Mantis Shrimp. It was described by Naiyanetri in 1995. The species name was given to honour the Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand. This species is known only from the type locality, the southern part of Gulf of Thailand.
Rota Ovula hirohito: It is a marine molluscdescribed by Cate and Azuma in the year 1973. The species was named after the emperor of Japan and a marine biologist, Michinomiya Hirohito.