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Worst/Best/Funniest Scientific Names

Started By Antennal_Scrobe , Nov 5 2019 2:22 PM
myrmecology

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19 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 5 2019 - 2:22 PM

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What do you think are the worst, best, and funniest ant species names out there? I'll start out with the incredibly informative moniker Lasius lasioides. I also must mention the fact that there is both a Camponotus turkestanus and a Camponotus turkestanicus.


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Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#2 Offline Manitobant - Posted November 5 2019 - 2:44 PM

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Monomorium monomorium...

Seriously look it up
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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#3 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 5 2019 - 3:40 PM

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I almost forgot Pseudomyrmex, the "False Ant"!


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Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#4 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 5 2019 - 5:00 PM

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Strumigenys literally translates to glandular swelling in the jaws. It's based off of the type species, Strumigenys mandibularis, but it doesn't work for pretty much any other member of the genus.


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Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipes, Strumigenys brevisetosa, Strumigenys clypeata, Strumigenys louisianae, Strumigenys membranifera, Strumigenys reflexa, Strumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

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#5 Offline Manitobant - Posted November 5 2019 - 8:08 PM

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Ok I'll add a few more...

Invicta literally translates to "invincible" which suits solenopsis invicta quite well to say the least.

Megacephala, as in pheidole megacephala, translates to "big head" which makes a lot of sense for a pheidole species

Polyergus mexicanus is very misleading as the species is actually extremely rare in Mexico

Xyloni apparently means "of wood" which really doesnt fit the aggressive desert species, solenopsis xyloni

Edited by Manitobant, November 5 2019 - 8:10 PM.

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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#6 Offline Martialis - Posted November 6 2019 - 9:18 AM

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Not exactly a scientific name, but this was funny:

 

    • Novomessor Emery, 1915d: 73. Type-species: Aphaenogaster (Ischnomyrmex) cockerelli, by original designation.
    • Novomessor junior synonym of Aphaenogaster: Brown, 1974b: 47.
    • Novomessor revived from synonymy: Hölldobler, Stanton & Engel, 1976: 32.
    • Novomessor junior synonym of Aphaenogaster: Bolton, 1982: 364 (discussion pp. 339-341); Bolton, 1994: 106.
    • Novomessor revived from synonymy: Demarco & Cognato, 2015: 5.

 

Yeah. Novomessor has been made a junior synonym/revived as a full genus not just two, but five times!


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#7 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 6 2019 - 1:01 PM

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Ok I'll add a few more...

Invicta literally translates to "invincible" which suits solenopsis invicta quite well to say the least.

Megacephala, as in pheidole megacephala, translates to "big head" which makes a lot of sense for a pheidole species

Polyergus mexicanus is very misleading as the species is actually extremely rare in Mexico

Xyloni apparently means "of wood" which really doesnt fit the aggressive desert species, solenopsis xyloni

Apparently the genus name Solenopsis means "pipe like", or "channel like". So we have the invincible channel and the wooden pipe.


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Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#8 Offline Aaron567 - Posted November 6 2019 - 2:57 PM

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Temnothorax unifasciatius unifasciatonigricepoides.


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#9 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 7 2019 - 12:55 PM

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Aphaenogaster subterranea valida, an invalid species.


Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, November 7 2019 - 2:07 PM.

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Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

#10 Offline ponerinecat - Posted November 7 2019 - 9:39 PM

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Temnothorax unifasciatius unifasciatonigricepoides.

they look nice though


#11 Offline ponerinecat - Posted November 9 2019 - 7:28 PM

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cephalotes depressus


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#12 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted November 10 2019 - 7:39 AM

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Ok I'll add a few more...

Invicta literally translates to "invincible" which suits solenopsis invicta quite well to say the least.

Megacephala, as in pheidole megacephala, translates to "big head" which makes a lot of sense for a pheidole species

Polyergus mexicanus is very misleading as the species is actually extremely rare in Mexico

Xyloni apparently means "of wood" which really doesnt fit the aggressive desert species, solenopsis xyloni

Apparently the genus name Solenopsis means "pipe like", or "channel like". So we have the invincible channel and the wooden pipe.

 

What if they actually evolved into wood pipes though? Just a weird/funny thought...


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#13 Offline AntsDakota - Posted November 10 2019 - 1:03 PM

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Formica fusca- 'Black ant'

Formica rufa- 'Red ant'

Formica montana- 'Ant hill'

Formica argentea- 'Ant silver'

Formica cinerea- 'Ant grey'

Formica clara- 'Ant bright'

Formica curiosa- 'Ant buckle'

Formica difficilis- 'Ant difficult'

Formica dolosa- 'Ant balance'

Formica exsecta- 'Ant upstanding'

Formica gagates- 'Ant jet'

Formica incerta- 'Ant uncertain'

Formica lepida- 'Ant elegant'

Formica manni- 'Ant foal'

Formica occulta- 'Ant secrets'

Formica pacifica- 'Ant peace'

Formica picea- 'Black ant'

 

I literally ran the names through google translate (from Latin).
 


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#14 Offline FSTP - Posted November 10 2019 - 7:56 PM

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Formica fusca- 'Black ant'

Formica rufa- 'Red ant'

Formica montana- 'Ant hill'

Formica argentea- 'Ant silver'

Formica cinerea- 'Ant grey'

Formica clara- 'Ant bright'

Formica curiosa- 'Ant buckle'

Formica difficilis- 'Ant difficult'

Formica dolosa- 'Ant balance'

Formica exsecta- 'Ant upstanding'

Formica gagates- 'Ant jet'

Formica incerta- 'Ant uncertain'

Formica lepida- 'Ant elegant'

Formica manni- 'Ant foal'

Formica occulta- 'Ant secrets'

Formica pacifica- 'Ant peace'

Formica picea- 'Black ant'

 

I literally ran the names through google translate (from Latin).
 

 

 

I like this. What secrets are you hiding Formica occulta ?! Tell me now you ANT!


Edited by FSTP, November 10 2019 - 7:57 PM.

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#15 Offline Manitobant - Posted November 10 2019 - 8:10 PM

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Formica fusca- 'Black ant'
Formica rufa- 'Red ant'
Formica montana- 'Ant hill'
Formica argentea- 'Ant silver'
Formica cinerea- 'Ant grey'
Formica clara- 'Ant bright'
Formica curiosa- 'Ant buckle'
Formica difficilis- 'Ant difficult'
Formica dolosa- 'Ant balance'
Formica exsecta- 'Ant upstanding'
Formica gagates- 'Ant jet'
Formica incerta- 'Ant uncertain'
Formica lepida- 'Ant elegant'
Formica manni- 'Ant foal'
Formica occulta- 'Ant secrets'
Formica pacifica- 'Ant peace'
Formica picea- 'Black ant'

I literally ran the names through google translate (from Latin).



I like this. What secrets are you hiding Formica occulta ?! Tell me now you ANT!
Literally the secrets ant

Edited by Manitobant, November 10 2019 - 8:11 PM.

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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#16 Offline AntsDakota - Posted November 11 2019 - 8:43 AM

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No idea if biologists actually meant a lot of these, such as 'Ant buckle' and 'Ant jet', but as I said, it was through Google Translate.  :D

I also like Formica incerta- the Uncertain Ant!  :lol:


Edited by AntsDakota, November 11 2019 - 8:43 AM.

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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#17 Offline FSTP - Posted November 11 2019 - 8:57 AM

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I see a lot of uncertain ants....lol


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#18 Offline Nare - Posted November 11 2019 - 3:47 PM

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You guys don't know how bad it is for termites... try Acanthotermes vs Anacanthotermes - the two genera aren't even in the same family.


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#19 Offline ponerinecat - Posted November 11 2019 - 8:16 PM

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cephalotes pellans and C. pallens


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#20 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 12 2019 - 1:13 PM

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Stenamma schmittii and Stenamma schmidti.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis

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