List of taxa named by anagrams
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the biological nomenclature codes, an anagram can be used to name a new taxon.
Wordplays are one source of inspiration allowing organisms to receive scientific names.[1] In the binomial nomenclature, as scientists have latitude in naming genera and species, a taxon name can therefore be an anagram, provided it remains pronounceable.[2] For example, in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, a new generic name can be taken from the name of a person by using an anagram or abbreviation of it.[3]
William Elford Leach was among the first naturalists to use taxonomic anagrams, and, in 1818, he described several isopod genera that were each other's anagrams of 'Caroline' : Conilera, Lironeca, Nerocila, Olencira, and Rocinela.[1]
List
| Initial taxon name | Initial authority | Taxonomic anagram | Anagram authority | Etymology or namesake | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albizia | Durazz. 1772 | Balizia | Barneby & J.W.Grimes 1996 | Filippo degli Albizzi (1724 - 1789) | [4] |
| Alciope | DC. 1836 | Capelio [a] | B.Nord. 2002 | Alciope, a nymph | [4] |
| Alibertia | A.Rich. ex DC. 1830 | Ibetralia | Bremek. 1934 | Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert (1768 - 1837) | [4] |
| Allium | L. 1753 | Muilla [b] | S.Watson ex Benth. 1833 | Latin word for garlic | [5] |
| Alsomitra | (Blume) M.Roem., 1846 | Siolmatra | Baill., 1885 | — | [6] |
| Baldellia | Parl. 1854 | Albidella | Pichon 1946 | Bartolomeo Bartolini-Baldelli (1804 - 1868) | [4] |
| Bartsia | L. 1753 | Starbia | Thouars 1806 | Johann Bartsch (1709 - 1738) | [4] |
| Beilschmiedia | Nees 1831 | Bielschmeidia | Pancher & Sebert 1874 | Carl Traugott Beilschmied (1793 - 1848) | [4] |
| Berardia | Brongn. 1826 | Diberara | Baill. 1881 | Jacques Étienne Bérard (1789 - 1869) | [4] |
| Berteroa | DC. 1821 | Terobera | Steud. 1855 | Carlo Luigi Giuseppe Bertero (1789 - 1831) | [4] |
| Bobea | A.Rich. 1830 | Obbea [a] | Hook.f. 1870 | Jean-Baptiste Bobe-Moreau (1761 - 1849) | [4] |
| Bouchea | Cham. 1832 | Ubochea | Baill. 1891 | Peter Friedrich Bouché (1785 - 1856) | [4] |
| Bullockia | (Bridson) Razafim., Lantz & B.Bremer 2009 | Buckollia | Venter & R.L.Verh. 1994 | Arthur Allman Bullock (1906 - 1980) | [4] |
| Burmannia | L. 1753 | Maburnia [a] [c] | Thouars 1806 | Johannes Burman (1706 - 1779) | [4] |
| Danthonia | DC. 1805 | Thonandia | H.P.Linder 1996 | Étienne Danthoine (1739 - 1794) | [4] |
| Ekmania | Gleason 1919 | Manekia | Trel. 1927 | Erik Leonard Ekman (1883 - 1931) | [4] |
| Fuchsia | Plum. ex L. | Schufia [a] | Spach | Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566) | [4] |
| Gerardia | L. 1753 | Dargeria | Decne. 1844 | John Gerard (1545 - 1612) | [4] |
| Gerardia | L. 1753 | Graderia | Benth. 1846 | John Gerard (1545 - 1612) | [4] |
| Goldfussia | Nees 1832 | Diflugossa [a] | Bremek. 1944 | Georg August Goldfuss (1782 - 1848) | [4] |
| Grazielia | R.M.King & H.Rob. 1972 | Algrizea [c] | Proença & NicLugh. 2006 | Graziela Maciel Barroso (1912 - 2003) | [4] |
| Hariota | DC. 1834 | Hatiora [a] | Britton & Rose 1915 | Thomas Harriot (ca. 1560 - 1621) | [4] |
| Hermannia | L. 1753 | Mahernia [a][c] | L. 1767 | Paul Hermann (1646 - 1695) | [4] |
| Hottonia | L. 1753 | Honottia | Rchb. 1828 | Pieter Hotton (1648 - 1709) | [4] |
| Huberia | DC. 1828 | Behuria | Cham. 1834 | François Huber (1750 - 1831) | [4] |
| Joannesia | Vell. 1798 | Annesijoa | Pax & K.Hoffm. 1919 | John VI of Portugal (1767 - 1826) | [4] |
| Kailarsenia | Tirveng. 1983 | Larsenaikia | Tirveng. 1993 | Kai Larsen (1926 - 2012) | [4] |
| Lawrencia | Hook. 1840 | Wrenciala | A.Gray 1854 | Robert William Lawrence (1807 - 1833) | [4] |
| Lechlera | Griseb. 1857 | Relchela | Steud. 1854 | Willibald Lechler (1814 - 1856) | [4] |
| Lespedeza | Michx. 1803 | Despeleza [a] | Nieuwl. 1914 | Vicente Manuel de Céspedes (1721 ? - 1794) | [4] |
| Letestua | Lecomte 1920 | Tulestea | Aubrév. & Pellegr. 1961 | Georges Le Testu (1877 - 1967) | [4] |
| Lobelia | L. 1753 | Bolelia [a] | Raf. 1832 | Matthias de l'Obel (1538 - 1616) | [4] |
| Mikania | F.W.Schmidt 1795 | Kanimia [a] | Gardner 1847 | Joseph Gottfried Mikan (1743 - 1814) | [4] |
| Myginda | Jacq. 1760 | Gyminda [a] | Sarg. 1891 | Franz von Mygind (1710 - 1789) | [4] |
| Oedera | L. 1771 | Eroeda [a] | Levyns 1948 | Georg Christian Oeder (1728 - 1791) | [4] |
| Planogyra | Morse, 1864 | Plagyrona | E. Gittenberger, 1977 | Latin planus (flat) + gyra (circle) "flatwhorl" | [citation needed] |
| Siebera | C.Presl 1828 | Beriesa | Steud. 1840 | Franz Wilhelm Sieber (1789 - 1844) | [4] |
| Tragia | L. 1753 | Agirta [a] | Baill. 1858 | Hieronymus Bock, named Tragus (1498 - 1554) | [4] |
Other names
While not a currently valid name, a scientific name was proposed for the Loch Ness Monster in a 1975 paper published in Nature by Sir Peter Scott & Robert Rines.[7] The name, Nessiteras rhombopteryx, was later pointed out as being an anagram for "Monster hoax by Sir Peter S."[8]