Etymology

[Shovelnose]

Was wondering if anyone could direct to a site / source where I can find definitions / meanings to genus / species names. I know all new papers being published carry this but Im looking for the older ones.

For example :

Glyptothorax = The generic name comes from the Greek glyptos, meaning carved, and thorax, meaning breastplate (or the part of the body covered by it), in reference to the folds of skin comprising the thoracic adhesive apparatus.

Any help would be appreciated.

[MatsP]

Where it is available, I add it to the Cat-eLog. Unfortunately, in many older papers it is not available.

I'm not aware of any web-site with this information in any comprehensive level - there are pages that give SOME names - I don't have an example, I just remember finding some.

--
Mats

[Silurus]

The easiest reference to use is offline, which is to use a copy of Brown's “Composition of Scientific Words”.

For online sources, I use http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/def ... ?target=la

But bear in mind that in either case, you must be able to split up any compounded names into their component words properly.

[Shovelnose]

Thanks for the link. Will have to work on breaking those words now.

The closest I got was this :

http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/

Seems more of a 'fun' link than an educational one.

[L number Banana]

Hi Shovelnose,

Here's a pretty light treatment of the subject regarding catfish. I think they also have a it set up with species names too but here's the genus area:
http://www.scotcat.com/scientific_names/genus.html

[Shovelnose]

Another good link!!! Thanks.

[L number Banana]

Welcome but I should have posted this page too.
http://www.scotcat.com/scientific_names/etymology.htm

[bronzefry]

Aside from Brown's book, which is still in publication, there is another book, but I'm not sure it's still published. It's called Chamber's Etymological English Dictionary by A.M. MacDonald. My copy was a gift and I have no idea of its origins. Brown's book is large and very helpful. MacDonald's book is much smaller, but also helpful.
Amanda

[Shovelnose]

Will keep a look out for it Amanda. Thanks.